Josefina Lopez and the “Real Women” of Los Angeles

FEATURING JOSEFINA LOPEZ - More than two decades ago, full-figured women all over the US and world felt seen and celebrated when the film Real Women Have Curves debuted to great acclaim and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. That film put its writer and producer, Josefina Lopez firmly on the map even as it gave visibility to women who are invisibilized, women who work in LA’s garment factories not unlike the ones that federal immigration agents have recently been raiding, snatching and disappearing mothers and daughters.  

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Lopez is a screenwriter and playwright, film producer and performer, born in Mexico and undocumented for more than a dozen years before receiving amnesty. She is also the founding Artistic Director of Casa 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, LA, and has produced over 200 plays celebrating Latinos, immigrants, and the LGBT and BIPOC communities.

The Real Women Have Curves musical opened on Broadway April 27, 2025. Lopez's latest project, 20 lbs to Happiness, considered a quasi-sequel to Real Women Have Curves, premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival this year.  I spoke with the acclaimed filmmaker recently about her work and the importance of immigrant stories.

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT:

Sonali Kolhatkar: Welcome to the program Josefina. Such an honor, and thrilled to have you. 

Josefina Lopez: Thank you so much, Sonali. I always love talking to you and I love the fact that you're an immigrant as well, and that we share this in common. We tell the truth about our community because there aren't enough voices speaking up, and it's important that our voices be heard, especially right now. 

Kolhatkar: Exactly right now. And you know, I have to tell you, Josefina, when I saw your film all those years ago, and I've watched it several times since, because it's one of those films that you like to rewatch over and over. Um, I didn't feel, you know, at first that, 'oh, what would I have in common with garment workers in LA?' But I felt so connected to those women that you profiled in a film whose screenplay was based on your own background, your own life as well. 

And I am wondering if we can start by talking about the universality of experiences at a time when empathy is unfortunately in low supply, given that we have a big segment of our population encouraging and celebrating. Donald Trump's very, very disgusting deportation, detainment and you know, Gestapo-like tactics against this very community. How important is the universality of these stories, like the ones you write? 

Lopez: You know, I had to write the story because I worked in this factory and the work was tough, but we laughed all the time and we, and we shared incredible stories that made every day a beautiful day. And I just remember thinking, I know people may feel sorry for us, but the kind of joy and connection that we have as Latinos, as women, as workers I just was like, ‘Oh my God, people need to know how much joy you can still have.’ 

And, and that's the power we have, is that we can choose to stand in joy and dignity. And, you know, that's what it really was, is that these women were so dignified because they were third world feminists and they were there working and we, we didn't have time to feel sorry for ourselves.