Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
G O R D I T A C H R O N I C L E S | P E R S P E C T I V E 3 7 neighborhood in Miami where Forestieri grew up. I knew all about being a chubby girl in the '80s and even shared a bedroom with my popular older sister, but understanding the cultural shifts this family faced between the Dominican Republic and Miami was crucial to authenticity. In 1985, I couldn't hide my thick Oklahoma accent when my family moved, or my tall, round build, or that bad perm, so I learned to use humor to deflect attention. The thing I loved about this series was that Cucu is fearless and avoids nothing. She's bursting with an envious curiosity and excitement while her sister Emilia is focused on popularity and boys. The series examines the sacrifices of immigration and judgment that sometimes comes from family members back home who don't understand, but it also focuses on common adolescent hurdles like making new friends, fitting in, and managing hormone changes and crushes. There are also some great situations where Adela and Victor Castelli have to adjust their own expectations, because settling into a new life—a new culture—is hard for everyone. A. APARTMENT COURTYARD. SET PHOTO BY LAURA MAGRUDER. B. CUCU IN THE COURTYARD. PRODUCTION STILL BY LAURA MAGRUDER. C. CASTELLI APARTMENT AND COURTYARD. DIRECTOR'S PLAN DRAWN IN VECTORWORKS BY MARCO MIEHE AND JOE PEW. B C