Polarization in the U.S.

The United States has not been this politically divided in decades, and recent research shows alarming trends regarding political polarization. Americans increasingly distrust political parties that differ from their own, and an increasing percentage of Americans consider the opposing party to be “a threat to the nation’s wellbeing.”

American polarization runs even deeper than the divides in other countries with the most notable difference being that it started from the bottom-up. Rather than one charismatic leader intentionally dividing the populace for political gain, polarization in the United States started among families and communities. More centrist politicians tried to span and manage the rift.

Donald Trump is the first leader in decades to openly cater to that extremism and use it to his advantage, rather than attempting to quell it. With this attention from the top combined with extremist attitudes from many online “news” sources on social media, historians worry that polarization may irreversibly divide the United States.

This political divide weakens our country and renders us unable to manage nation-wide problems. Even issues that are scientific and clear become openly politicized, to the point that we reject or miss out on obvious solutions because we are too busy arguing.

It started at home

In the US, the division did not start with the politicians. It started at the dinner table.

And while division is dangerous to a nation, it is perhaps even more devastating in its effects on families. Zuleyka Silver, who plays Veronica in the film, shared that she decided to participate in Estilo Americano because it hit home for personal reasons. She said, “It’s something I struggle with in my own family. Politics and religion have really separated us and have really divided us.”

When politicians cater to Latinos

Latinos are an extremely powerful voting bloc in the US. For that reason, politicians have a serious incentive to cater to them. However, politicians tend to miss the mark by treating Latino communities as a monolith. This is a fallacy, considering that Latinos in the Americas claim heritage from countless countries, racial backgrounds, and political ideologies.

“Estilo Americano” manages to represent the diverse viewpoints among a single family, while also highlighting the danger of this political divide. In portraying such a realistic perspective, the film brings representation to a group that has far too often been reduced to a simple, one-dimensional caricature.

By accurately representing a complex, conflict-ridden family, the filmmakers of “Estilo Americano” demonstrate just how universal these problems are. The film’s producer, Ellen Utrecht, pointed out that, “although we are portraying a Latino family in ‘Estilo Americano’, this could be any dinner table in the USA.”

Families overcome

Not all hope is lost.

While this film certainly exposes an unfortunate reality among many families, it also offers a roadmap to oneness.

The outlook may sometimes seem grim, but it is important to remember that any major change in this nation will start in the home. And despite all the hemming and hawing over political adversaries, this family manages to maintain empathy and understanding of one another despite their differences.

It’s this gentle, beating heart of the film, evident in the characters’ loyalty and love toward one another, that sets it apart from other politically charged movies. By choosing to set the film in a family home, it adds a deeply personal element to the politics. It is a reminder that the American people truly care about these topics and, in the end, truly care about each other.

“Estilo Americano” is available exclusively through Los Cortos, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Hispanic stories in film.