In America Film Summary & Analysis

Symbols

Mateo's Medicine

When the girls meet Mateo, they find that his refrigerator has very little food but a lot of medicine. They ask if he's sick, but he simply changes the subject. Neither the girls nor the viewers think much of the medicine until Johnny confronts Mateo about spending so much time with his family.

At this point, Mateo admits that he is dying of AIDS. He has to take his medicines to slow down the progress of the disease, but eventually even the medicine won't be able to help him. Mateo has fallen in love with life since becoming sick and plans to live it to the fullest as long as he can.

Mateo's medicine is symbolic both of a desire for life and the need for a cure for AIDS. He loves his life, but without a cure, nothing can really be changed. The medicines available simply aren't enough, and...
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