On February 24, it was announced that Erika L. Sánchez’s 2017 debut novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter has a director, screenwriter, and will be streamed with Netflix.
The novel follows Julia who doesn’t want to take up the “perfect daughter” role that her older sister Olga has occupied. But after a tragic accident, Olga is left dead and instead of acknowledging her grief, Julia’s mother begins criticizing and explaining how Julia has failed. When Julia then discovers her sister may not have been entirely perfect, she embarks on many firsts.
America Ferrera is set to direct the project through production companies Anonymous Content and MACRO. Linda Yvette Chávez is writing the screenplay, Doreen Wilcox Little (Anonymous Content) will be producing alongside Charles D. King and Poppy Hanks (MACRO), including David Kuhn (Aevitas Creative Management). Executive producers include Michelle Brower and Greta Fuentes.
“Years ago, I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’ stunning novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” said Ferrera. She continued to say that Sánchez’s writing “struck” her to the core. “I am truly honored and humbled to direct Linda Yvette Chávez’s beautifully adapted screenplay. The opportunity to direct the work of these two incredibly talented Latina writers is a dream come true. I can’t wait to share this film with the many fans of the novel, and to introduce this funny, profound, and resonant story to the world.” [Quoted in articles such as Deadline]
“The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more. I am truly honored and humbled to direct Linda Yvette Chávez’s beautifully adapted screenplay. The opportunity to direct the work of these two incredibly talented Latina writers is a dream come true. I can’t wait to share this film with the many fans of the novel, and to introduce this funny, profound, and resonant story to the world.”
MACRO is known for projects such as Gentefied and Raising Dion. Ferrera is known for her role in the 2006 television series Ugly Betty as well as NBC’s Superstore.
Sánchez will be a co-producer on the project. However, no information as to release date, casting, etc. has been mentioned yet.
Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.
But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role.
Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.
But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first kiss, first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez is out now!
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