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PEOPLE & ARTSFriday 24 November 2017
Anthony Gonzalez, and his
mama, living a dream with ‘Coco’
In this Nov. 8, 2017 file photo, Anthony Gonzalez, who voices the By SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS movie at my age. I grew Lilian Gonzalez, who ar-
character of Miguel in the animated film “Coco,” arrives at the Associated Press up watching these films!,” rived in America more than
premiere of the film in Los Angeles. NEW YORK (AP) — Like the Gonzalez, who recently 20 years ago and works
character he plays in the turned 13, said in reference in the cosmetology field,
Associated Press film “Coco,” Anthony Gon- to hits like “Toy Story,” ‘’Up” went to great lengths to
zalez has always wanted to and “Inside Out.” ‘’Being support her children’s call-
be an artist. But unlike the there at this age is a won- ing. “Every time we went
role he plays, the young derful, very beautiful expe- to a competition I would
actor has been lucky to rience.” lose my job,” she said. “An-
have the full support of his He may be starting his pro- thony would tell me, ‘You
Mexican family. fessional career as a tween, will be able to get lots of
“My parents have always but his path to “Coco” jobs, but I am going to be
been there for me,” said started way earlier, singing a kid only once.’ Then,
Gonzalez, one of five sib- Mariachi with his modest when they wouldn’t go to
lings born in Los Angeles to family at El Mercado de the next round, we would
Mexican parents. “Without Los Angeles and compet- cry and he would say, ‘Ev-
them I would not be in a ing in singing contests in his erybody cries, there’s noth-
Disney-Pixar movie.” hometown, Mexico or Mi- ing wrong with that! The
“Coco,” which opened ami — all while his parents important thing is to keep
Wednesday in the United struggled to get their chil- going.’” Pixar started work-
States, is Pixar’s first feature dren, most of them aspir- ing on “Coco” about six
film with a minority lead ing musicians, training and years ago, but its release
character, and one of the financial help. Gonzalez comes at a moment of ten-
largest American produc- and his two brothers attend sion between the govern-
tions ever to feature an al- the Colburn Community ments of Mexico and the
most entirely Latino cast. School of Performing Arts. United States because of
It takes place in Mexico His two older sisters are now president Donald Trump’s
during the holiday Dia de in college. hardline immigration poli-
los Muertos (Day of the “I have no words to explain cies and his desire to build
Dead) and follows Miguel, this. This is a dream— some- a wall in the border. Lilian
a 12 year-old boy with the thing you never expect,” appreciates the cultural di-
heart of a musician born in Lilian, the Gonzalez’s matri- versity and the support she
a family that has prohibited arch, said of her son’s par- has found in Los Angeles.
music for generations. After ticipation in “Coco.” ‘’You “Here I was able to teach
fighting with his family over come to this country with my children that every cul-
not letting him make music, so many dreams and what ture is beautiful, that you
Miguel slips into a wondrous can I say? We struggle ev- can learn from them, and
netherworld where he de- ery day. To me, this is very that, as human beings, we
pends on his long-dead hard because, honestly, don’t choose where we are
ancestors to restore him to this is something we never born. The important thing is
the land of the living. dreamed of, but we always to know what your purpose
“I never thought I’d be wanted to support our chil- here is and develop it,” she
working in a Disney-Pixar dren.” said.q
Review: David Baldacci is
back with ‘End Game’ thriller
This cover image released By JEFF AYERS work better hidden and
by Grand Central shows “End Associated Press seeing the world behind
Game,” by David Baldacci. Assassins Will Robie and a sniperscope than con-
Jessica Reel are forced fronting potential suspects
Associated Press to become detectives to directly. The citizens of the
solve a baffling disappear- small town of Grand have
ance in David Baldacci’s issues with strangers asking
latest thriller, “End Game.” questions. Both Robie and
When the U.S. government Reel have stumbled into
wants to quietly eliminate a vast conspiracy that will
a threat, it relies on Robie probably get them killed,
and Reel to take out the but they persevere for the
target. Their boss, known as sake of their boss.
the Blue Man, takes a rare It doesn’t help that they
vacation to visit his home- are having personal issues.
town in a rural part of Colo- Robie has fallen in love with
rado. When he disappears, Reel, and he thought his
his superiors call on the feelings were reciprocat-
Robie and Reel to find out ed. So why is she giving him
what happened. They both the cold shoulder?q
