La Vida, Lucky
Abstract
Waleska Torres’ life was documented in a nonfiction story entitled Lucky by director Laura Checkoway, produced by Neyda Martinez. The film which debuted in 2013 spanned more than five years on the streets of New York City and followed Lucky Torres, who grew up as an orphan in a system that made her feel like a nobody. In this paper, Martinez and Potashnik’s analysis will reflect past Lucky’s visage, to reexamine the urgency of her story, evolution, and journey as an unlikely heroine who dares to live life on her own terms. The authors contend that Lucky’s story remains as vital and current today as it was at the time of the premiere, as Lucky’s life underscores the plight of countless marginalized and abandoned poor youth facing similar life circumstances. Masked in tattoos, Lucky transformed herself into her own canvas. Her face etched in ink charts a lifetime of violence and resilience and creates a self-imposed barrier between herself and the mainstream world. Producer Neyda Martinez explains, “Lucky’s story is that of a generation with parents lost to the 1970s/1980s AIDS crisis. Forced to endure a transient upbringing without the security, safety, and support provided by responsible role models, they rely on the media to shape their dreams of success. Why do people shun Lucky? Why are people shocked by her stance and bravado? We, our society, are both responsible for abandoning and creating her. As artists, our job is to hold up a mirror to show plainly what many refuse to see.”
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