Chapter 4: Vivo (2021)

As the daughter of Cuban refugees, who came to the United States in 1971, Jessica was immediately drawn to the film Vivo (DeMicco, 2021). Vivo opens with an impactful scene in the heart of Havana that demonstrates both the richness of Cuban music and its importance to the fabric of life and culture. Using the significance of music as a plot drive, Vivo features Cuban artists namely, Gloria Estefan voicing Marta Sandoval, a main character and singer in the film. Having sung along with and danced to Gloria’s music for countless hours during her own childhood, Jessica joyfully watched life come full circle when her own son (age 5) sang and danced to Gloria’s songs from the film with pride for his Cuban heritage.