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SUGAR

"Ultimately Depressing"

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What You Need To Know:

SUGAR is an independent movie about the trials and tribulations of a Latino baseball player trying to crack Major League Baseball in the United States. Miguel “Sugar” Santos, a pitching phenom in the Dominican Republic, is signed to play for a minor league team in Iowa. The rural area is not a perfect fit for Miguel. When he suffers an injury and his Latino friend fails to make the team, Miguel’s increased isolation begins to take its toll.

SUGAR is an interesting, well-acted look into a world that very few movies have ever explored. The ending, however, is rather depressing. It suggests that Latino ballplayers from other countries will never fully assimilate into American society, but can only find true brotherhood among other Latinos. The movie also suggests that illegal immigration is a viable alternative. This is somewhat politically correct and anti-American. Ironically, it also makes one question whether Miguel himself has the strength of character and broad-minded attitude to overcome adversity and reach out to other people in strange cultures. After all, communication between cultures is a two-way street. Ultimately, the movie’s ending probably will turn off average, discerning moviegoers.

Content:

(RoRo, C, B, PC, AP, LL, V, SS, N, AA, DD, MM) Strong Romantic worldview about the conflicts small and large between two cultures that implies it is impossible for two different cultures to truly assimilate with one another, which is a rather depressing conclusion, plus some positive Christian content, but marred by some politically correct implications against American and white people in the ending; 15 obscenities (including a few “f” words), one GD and five light profanities; man gets angry and throws one or two things and wrecks a water bottle device, plus a racial scuffle in a dance club; depicted fornication, men watch porno in hotel room, dancing in a nightclub, and man kisses woman but she makes him stop; upper male nudity in several scenes; alcohol use and drunkenness; player takes amphetamines; and, some ethnocentrism and racism, man fails his obligations, and movie slightly promotes and excuses illegal immigration in the third act.

More Detail:

SUGAR is an independent movie about the trials and tribulations of a Latino baseball player trying to crack Major League Baseball in the United States.

The story opens in the Dominican Republic, where Miguel “Sugar” Santos, a pitching phenom, tries out to become a Minor League player for a major league team. To his family, Miguel is their shining star and hope for a better future.

The team accepts Miguel and several other Dominican players to come to its spring training facility in Arizona. Miguel finds out he’s not the only budding superstar there, but he earns a spot with the team’s Minor League affiliate in Bridgetown, Iowa, a team called the Swing.

There, Miguel is assigned to a host family, the Higgins, an aging Christian couple and devout Swing fans, who live in an isolated farmhouse. Miguel gradually becomes more accepted in the community, but his isolation from the Americans shows itself in small ways, including slight bigotry and struggles to communicate in English.

When Miguel suffers a leg injury and loses a close Dominican friend who has to leave the team, the increased isolation begins to take its toll.

The upshot of this story is how hard it is for Latin American baseball players to crack the Major Leagues successfully, as well as assimilate into English-speaking American society. Regrettably, the movie suggests that the vast majority of players from Latin America, whether they make it in the Big Leagues or not, must accept the fact that they will never really assimilate into American society, but can only find true brotherhood among other Latinos. The movie also suggests that illegal immigration is a viable alternative for Latinos trying to escape the rampant under-development in their own countries. Thus, the ending to this movie is rather depressing and tinged with an ultimately negative portrayal of white American society.

That said, SUGAR is an interesting look into a world that very few movies, if any, have ever explored. According to the movie’s production notes, so many Latin ballplayers come from the Dominican Republic because the Major League teams have training facilities there. The acting in SUGAR is very good and natural. A viewer roots for Miguel to succeed, but his character loses some of its appeal in the third act. Looking back on the movie, one may wonder whether Miguel himself really has the strength of character and broad-minded attitude to overcome adversity and reach out to people in other strange cultures. One might also reasonably ask whether Miguel ever really makes an effort to fit in with the society he finds in the Estados Unidos. After all, communication between one culture and another is a two-way street.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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