Latino Actor Gina Rodriguez Saves Movie Awake (2021)

Many high-quality, exciting movies landed on Netflix this month, one of them being Awake, a new thriller starring Latino actor Gina Rodriguez. Well-known for her role in Jane the Virgin, Rodriguez plays Jill, a mother who tries to protect her children (Noah, played by Lucius Hoyos and Matilda, played by Ariana Greenblatt) after a terrible event brings about devastating consequences for humans: they are not able to sleep anymore.

But, curiously, the only one who doesn’t seem to have trouble sleeping is Jill’s small daughter, Matilda. The whole family was caught up in a car accident just at the time of the solar flare that took away humans’ ability to rest. During this accident, the girl almost drowned, which seemed to have had some kind of miraculous effect on her. Now comes the time for Jill to try and save her family while protecting her daughter before losing her mind for lack of sleep.

The premise of the film is simple yet compelling: most researchers and members of the military are after Matilda to study her and look for a cure. Latino actor Gina Rodriguez plays ex-soldier Jill with intensity and fierceness, masterfully depicting how PTSD can affect the life of a person even many years after traumatic events took place. For example, when she learns that scientists are looking for a cure and would like to study her daughter, Jill is reluctant to hand over Maltida, as she clearly remembers the torture prisoners of war were inflicted in the past and fears Matilda will suffer the same destiny.

Jill gets a lot of help along the way and goes through difficult situations in a world where nothing makes sense anymore. In addition to this fast-paced drama, the film covers many topics such as PTSD, the relationship between siblings, and how humanity can react when the worst happens.

Awake (2021) was only out a few weeks ago but many have already given their verdict. Some fans have not only praised the pace of the thriller (claiming it to be intense) but also Gina Rodriguez’s brilliant performance. Yet, some others did not have the same experience and branded the plot as boring or unrealistic.

Regardless of the perceived weakness of the plot, Rodriguez’s amazing acting skills show when portraying Jill’s decay due to lack of sleep and her mental health problems. We can see how she goes from being a determined hero to someone who doesn’t have the skills or strength to fight anymore. She’s also been praised for her heartfelt depiction of Jill’s relationship with her teen son, Noah. The emotional scenes, then, were masterfully filmed and portrayed.

If you like dystopian movies with a sense of paranoia and horror, then Awake (2021) is the film for you. You’ll get to enjoy Latino actor Gina Rodriguez’s talent while discovering a fascinating story about trauma and love that comes together in a neat package by the end.

Produced by Paul Schiff and directed by Mark Raso, Awake is now available on Netflix to binge-watch. And if you enjoyed Rodriguez’s performance as an actor, you can also take a look at her brilliant work as a director in Charmed (2018).

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