Rita Moreno and some of her biggest — and most famous — fans reflect on her legacy in “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.” Mariem Pérez Riera’s Sundance doc recalls Moreno’s extraordinary journey from being born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm to achieving EGOT status. “She comes with history,” we’re told in a new trailer for the film. “Some people might view Rita Morena as the embodiment of the American dream.”
“I was really drawn to [Rita],” says Gloria Estefan. “She made me feel like women could do anything — because she did. She was a Latina like me.” Though she’s served as an inspiration for many, the “One Day at a Time” actress’ 70-plus years in the business have been far from a fairytale. The film explores the racism and sexism Moreno has endured along the way to global stardom. “I really was very often treated like a sex object,” Moreno reveals. Even following her Oscar win for “West Side Story,” Moreno was offered stereotypical, underdeveloped roles. Eva Longoria suggests that playing certain characters “hurt her soul.”
The doc also highlights Moreno’s activism off-screen. “Wear your nationality like a flag. Be proud of it,” she’s shown saying.
“As a Puerto Rican woman myself, I have a different perspective about Rita,” Riera told us. “She is a true icon for us. She represents that community of Puerto Ricans who have left the island for a better life and as a Puerto Rican, I’ve followed her story all my life.” She added, “I want this film to inspire women to speak up and to reach their greatest freedom and happiness. Women are always fighting a silent war against insecurities that for generations have been ingrained in limiting beliefs based on a male-dominated culture. This film shows a woman who encountered many obstacles — not only as a woman, but also as an immigrant Puerto Rican woman,” she explained. “Her greatest achievement is not all her accolades, but finally becoming her true self. I hope people, including men, can find inspiration in her story to embrace their true selves.”
“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” opens in theaters June 18.
