Anonymously Yours: A Teen Rom Com That Displays the Promising Youth Who Plan to Use Their Passions for Change
A film in Spanish set in Mexico City, two teens grapple with following their dreams despite what other want from them; all while messaging online without even knowing it.
Annie Cabello and Ralf Morales in “Anonima” / Courtesy of Netflix
What overall seems like a typical coming of age, made for Gen Z film, actually mirrors the challenges many young people face as they navigate their own perceptions of themselves and the pressure of what others think.
Anonymously Yours or Anónima was released on Netflix in 2021, and stars Annie Cabello and Ralf Morales as Vale and Aléx, two high schoolers finishing their last year, and feeling unsure about themselves and the future. The film is purely in Spanish and is set in Mexico City. Vale, or Valeria, dreams of becoming a film director but her parents want her to study at a rigorous university and later help the family business: Elevadores Ontiveros (or Ontiveros Elevators). Aléx promised his mother and late father he would attend the best university and later follow his fathers’ career footsteps but has a longing to do something different and outside the box.
A twist is thrown into the two teens’ lives as Aléx gets the wrong number from a girl he likes and starts texting an anonymous receiver. (Which just so happens to be Vale). Neither of them know they’re texting each other, and to make the plot even more interesting, they both meet in detention and eventually loathe each other. On the school grounds they’re bickering, and at home they text each other unknowingly and get to know an interesting and chingón person on the other line.
Interestingly, in person, the pair begins to talk and come to know each other’s challenges, dreams, and common thought of: What am I supposed to do with my life? And do I want the life others want for me? By Vale showing Aléx her childhood short films and by Aléx explaining his desire to install internet on surrounding communities, (just like he does for his apartment building) they create an unlikely bond rooted in them working to prove to themselves they can dedicate themselves to whatever they want in life.
However, it’s still a challenge for Vale to convince her parents to let her study her passion and Aléx feels the pressure from his mom and school teachers and counselors to exceed and end up at a top university.
Even though this film focuses around a romantic teen plot line, the film offers a unique take on the pressure teens face, but their potential to do great things. The use of modern and artsy techniques to film the movie helps establish how new ideas, new pathways, and new generations can greatly improve society. The juxtaposition between the parents and adult figures in Vale and Alex’s life to the spry and spirited youth of the high schoolers greater emphasize how older generations are holding back on the improvement and advancement for youth the better society.
I myself can relate immensely to how Vale and Aléx feel as I’m constantly worried about the future and what I will end up doing in my life. Although I don’t face pressure from others or older figures to pursue a certain field, I feel the need to achieve at the highest level and not slip up at any moments notice. The anxiety surrounding college applications and the overall unknown of the adult and working world are thoughts that constantly flood my mind.
However, there are stories like Anónima that help me realize it’s normal to feel this way and that the most important thing to do is follow your own passion regardless of societal, social, or family pressures and opinions. The way Vale and Aléx chose a different (and their own path) is an important example for other goof people to witness as the message they send is so important. The film and storyline also showcases that the world can be greatly improved by young pipelines pursuing different paths and that having the courage to follow your dreams is always the best decision to make.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Anonymously Yours and believe the blend of an entertaining teen romance trope with the important message of using your passions to better the world made for a truly meaningful movie.