Review on Mon Laferte, te amo Netlix Documentary
Mon Laferte
Mon Laferte, born Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte, is a Chilean singer whose rise to international fame was marked by her 2015 album Mon Laferte Vol. 1, featuring hits like "Tu falta de querer." Beyond her celebrated musical career and multiple Latin Grammy wins, she is widely admired for her activism, especially in women's rights and social justice. Recently, Mon Laferte shared a Netflix documentary titled Te Amo, which follows her journey from childhood to becoming the artist she is today.
What I found particularly admirable about Mon Laferte in this documentary is her openness and vulnerability. The slow pace and raw honesty drew me in. The documentary starts with Mon Laferte recounting her childhood which was marked by her father's absence. She shares that her father wanted nothing to do with her, and she accepted that reality from a young age. Her reflections on her relationship with her mother were equally significant. While acknowledging the pain her mother caused, she ultimately comes to terms with the fact that her mother did the best she could. It’s clear that Mon Laferte is grateful for the woman she has become, despite the difficulties of her upbringing.
I believe there comes a point in all of our lives when we have to stop holding onto the hurt caused by others, especially those closest to us, like our parents. Instead of internalizing their actions and letting it haunt us, it’s better to reach a place of acceptance and recognize them for who they are, flaws and all. It's about learning to let go of the pain and not take their shortcomings personally. This shift in perspective is freeing, and Mon Laferte’s story captures that beautifully.
A particularly intimate part of the documentary is when it follows Mon Laferte during her pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood. She openly talks about the mini anxiety attacks she experienced, brought on by the overwhelming idea of becoming a mother. I appreciated how she didn’t romanticize motherhood, despite it being an important part of her life and many women's lives. Instead, she presented it as a transition filled with both beauty and anxiety.
Mon Laferte also talks about her mental health struggles, discussing how severely they affected her, especially after experiencing infidelity in a past relationship. What struck me most was how plainly she described those dark moments. She said that during her crisis, it was the first time she allowed herself to stop trying to be perfect or liked by others. Instead, she simply let herself feel her pain. I found that incredibly powerful. As women, we often share stories about our first kiss or first intimate experience, but rarely do we talk about the first time we allow ourselves to feel sadness in its rawest form. Hearing Mon Laferte share this made me feel less alone. I, too, remember the first time I let myself sit with my sadness. It was consoling to know I wasn't the only one.
Perhaps the most impactful theme in the documentary is the loneliness that Mon Laferte has felt throughout her life. She reveals that at a young age, she realized that when she sang, people listened, and in those moments, she felt wanted and loved. It’s that feeling of being seen and heard that drove her to work so relentlessly toward her success as a singer. By the end of the documentary, Mon Laferte reflects on her life, now surrounded by a beautiful family and people who love her. Yet she admits that knowing what she knows now, she wouldn’t choose to go through it all over again.
Her story is a reminder of the complexities of life, success, and personal growth. Mon Laferte’s openness in sharing her journey, with all its pain and triumph, makes her not only a remarkable artist but also an inspiring person.
