Quinceanera
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Movie Reviews of Quinceanera
Movie Review: Sweet Fifteen
Summary: 5 Stars
`Quinceanera` is a delightful independent film full of charm and pathos. With its refreshing lack of pretension and sincere, heartfelt performances, it stands out as one of the best films in recent years.
The film`s premise is simple enough: the passage to womanhood that marks a Latina`s fifteenth birthday, her `Quinceanera.` Yet, the story of Magdalena`s `Quinceanera` is anything but straightforward. Magdalena (Emily Rios in a bravo debut performance) is getting ready for her big day, but things aren`t falling into place. Her boyfriend abandons her after learning she is pregnant. Yet, she`s still a virgin. And things just get weirder. Exiled from home by her fanatical preacher father, Magdalena moves in with her gangbanger wanna-be cousin (Jesse Garcia in another amazing performance) who is cautiously coming-out, and with their avuncular, loving Uncle Thomas `Tio` (Chalo Gonzalez).
`Quinceanera` examines how these three highly divergent characters come together and face the challenges of life in a neighborhood that is radically changing. The black sheep of his family, Carlos must navigate a community that disapproves of his homosexuality. When a gay couple moves in upstairs, they take Carlos in as a third partner. As his attraction to one of the pair increases, Carlos is caught in a dilemma. His presence threatens to break up the pair and he is soon left with a broken heart. Moreover, the couple has Carlos, Magdalena, and Tio evicted. Throughout these crises, Tio provides the calming faith that keeps Carlos and Magdalena going.
Garcia, Rios, and Gonzalez are what make this film so charming. As Magdalena, Rios is pitch perfect as a good girl caught in a very unsatisfactory situation. Tough and cynical on the outside, Magdalena is still very much a vulnerable girl not ready to become a woman. In addition, Garcia`s portrayal of the conflicted Carlos is amazing. Carlos uses his sexy bravado to hide a deep insecurity as he struggles to straddle two very disparate worlds. As the film progresses, Carlos evolves from a dope-smoking freeloader to a young man who steps up to the responsibilities of adulthood.
Alongside these touching performances, Chalo Gonzalez gives a powerful and understated performance as `Tio.` With his shuffling stride and battered shopping cart, Tio has been keeping Echo Park supplied with his tasty champurrado. Behind his grandfatherly smile and halting English, Tio sees more and knows more than he lets on. Rather than confront, he would rather listen and comfort. When Carlos talks about visiting his` friend,` Tio remarks that he is glad Carlos has a `special friend.` It remains unstated, but Carlos knows that he is accepted and loved.
`Quinceanera` can be appreciated on yet another level as well: as a parable about dying and being reborn. With Tio`s passing, so passes a way of life. Carlos and Magdalena must learn to survive in an Echo Park that is no longer the comfortable nest of their childhoods. With her pregnancy, Magdalena must face an adulthood far more imposing than any ceremony could be. And despite his wounded pride and new responsibilities, Carlos faces the world with the confidence and power that comes from self-knowledge. The film ends with Magdalena and Carlos stepping out of the limo into a world that is no longer Tio`s. Yet, somehow you know everything`s going to be alright.
Movie Review: taut, gripping slice of life
Summary: 5 Stars
Quinceañera is one of those very few indie films that truly score a huge goal. The convincing acting had me riveted to my seat throughout the picture; and I actually shed a few tears when I watched Carlos, the black sheep of the family, give a eulogy for his deceased Uncle Tomas near the end of the film. Quinceañera sends a big message about life in general, what growing up is really all about, and how tough things can be when an ethnic neighborhood becomes gentrified.
The action begins at a Quinceañera ritual and party (a coming of age ceremony in Spanish culture similar to a young Jewish girl's Bat Mitzvah). We see the young people dancing on the floor and the older members of the family with socializing at their tables with their friends. A fourteen year old girl named Magdalena (Emily Rios) dreams of her upcoming Quinceañera ceremony while her thick headed father simply dreads the high cost of the ceremony. In addition, we quickly see that all will not be the way Magdalena wants for her party. She will have to wear a dress already worn by another member of the family and she will not be able to arrive at her Quinceañera in a Hummer limousine.
Magdalena and her boyfriend Herman (J.R. Cruz) are fumbling through a relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend when a shocking event occurs--Magdalena is pregnant. Nobody can figure out how or why, especially since the one time she was intimate with Herman they did not go "all the way." Nevertheless, pregnant she is--and her father rewards her by throwing her out of their home.
Magdalena soon winds up living with her gentle, kind Uncle Tomas (Chalo González) and the black sheep of the family, her cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia) who, with the exception of Uncle Tomas, they all hate because he likes men. However, unexpected events occur which challenge Magdalena to grow up fast in a meaningful way that a mere ceremonial Quinceañera never could have.
What will happen to Magdalena and Carlos after their Uncle Tomas dies unexpectedly? Will Magdalena's parents ever reconcile with her? How did Magdalena actually become pregnant in the first place? How does gentrification change the lives of the Spanish people in their neighborhood? No spoilers here, folks, you'll just have to watch the movie to find out!
Look for some very moving scenes near the end of this movie, especially, as I wrote above, when Carlos speaks at his Uncle's funeral. I also like the way the film takes its time to develop Carlos's relationship with the two gay men who live next door to them. The choreography was quite good for the Quinceañera party scenes and the cinematography was great. You'd never know this was a low budget movie; it says so much that is so meaningful you won't notice too many flaws when you watch this one.
The DVD comes with a few extras which include a commentary with both the filmmakers and the cast; and there is a noteworthy "making of" the movie featurette.
Overall, I highly recommend Quinceañera for fans of independent films and for anyone who enjoys films that entertain but make you think and move you with their heartfelt message. Quinceañera exposes the great talents of many of the actors; but Emily Rios as Magdalena and Jesse Garcia as Carlos are the ones who truly steal the show.
Bravo!
Movie Review: a gem...
Summary: 5 Stars
*Quinceanera* is a gem...at least, for me. Like *Real Women Have Curves*, this film captured the true interactions and dialogues among Hispanic families. It just made me miss home even more.
Magdalena is up next for her quinceanera. She wants hers to be just like her cousin's who just recently had hers. She wants a new dress and a rented Hummer limo. The problem is her family's financial limitations and her preaching father. She may just have to stick with her cousin's hand-me-down gown.
When she's being fitted for the gown, suspicion arises that Magdalena is pregnant. When confirmed, her family is upset, especially her father. Magdalena claims she's a virgin. Her father believes that this is an impossibility and kicks her out of the house.
She only has one place to go...her Tio Tomas' house. Tio Tomas is also housing another black sheep, her cousin Carlos. Carlos has been banished from his family because he is gay. Tio Tomas is that one person that everyone in the families and in the communities love.
From there, the film focuses on Magdalena and Carlos' personal coming-of-age journeys. Magdalena addresses the whole pregnancy issue with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend proclaims to love her but feels pressured by his family to succeed academically. Carlos explores his sexuality with a gay couple who lives next to Tio Tomas. Carlos falls for one of them, even though he puts on a tough act that he really doesn't care about anything.
Just when things seem like it'll be alright, something bad happens. Well, not just one thing but several things. However, Magdalena and Carlos come out alright. The bond between them becomes stronger.
I just simply love *Quinceanera* for showing the interactions between family members. I just love how one aunt turned to her sisters and hissed "fourteen years old!" when Magdalena is suspected to be pregnant. I was like...my mother and my aunts would so do that and have done that as well.
There are many aspects of the film that I loved. The pressure and encouragment for Hispanic children to succeed academically to pursue and live that American dream. The dialogues between adults and children, alternating in Spanish and English. The assimilation of American things in Hispanic rituals. The diversity of religious beliefs instead of just showing that everyone is Catholic.
Lastly, it was wonderful to include a gay Hispanic character. It is very rare to see like this. I love that fact that the directors didn't pick one that is stereotypically effeminate and is into dragging. They picked someone thuggish and macho. It was just...perfect!
The photography and sceneries here are just authentic. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the film. You are seeing the real thing of the Hispanic world.
Simply, it was a gem of a film.
Movie Review: Truly marvelous
Summary: 5 Stars
What holds this movie together and most independent films is the big heart behind it. The biggest ones ofcourse goes to the three leads, Jesse Garcia(Carlos), Emily Rios(Magdalena) and Chalo Gonzalez(Tio Tomas). These three made the movie. Their interpretation of their characters is so on the mark. And the Title? I think it's no use explaining what Quinceanera is all about but let me give it a try. It's a celebration to mark the transition of a girl to womanhood. It's real big, sometimes parents spend more on this than the wedding. Why 15, some sociological anthropologist surmise that it was an ancient mayan ritual melded into Christianity. Anyway, Magdalena's Quinceanera is really just a backdrop. It's just that so many life altering events happens as she looks forward to her big day. One being a virginal pregnancy which might puzzle some viewers, but I think this is an atempt to pay homage to the the style of literature that is Latin American; Magical Thinking made popular by novelist/nobel laurette- Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. I think it's a nice touch. And for some of us who has lived and is familiar with the setting, Echo Park, this movie will make you homesick. You can see that some of the same shops and streets haven't change much and it's real cool that the filmakers used real people who lived there and shot the film almost entirely on location. My hats off to the actors and the filmakers, what a lobor of love and it shows. Please watch the DVD extras. It is just as interesting like the fact the Emily Rios grew up in a Jehovah Witnesses' family(the religious sect that don't beleive in celebrating birthdays, holloween, christmas, anything-PartyPoopers! but I hear that it's okay for couples to celebrate their Wedding Anniversaries.) so Rios never had a Quinceanera or anything like it and Jesse Garcia grew up in the midWest, no exposures to Chicano culture or gang life. Chalo Gonzales who lovingly portrays Tio Tomas is an old western, Sam Pekinpah actor, expresses his aprreciation for being in the movie with such joy that's its palpable and you cry along with him. I highly recommend this movie. It's a real treat.Movie Review: A WARM FAMILY HUG
Summary: 5 Stars
Upon viewing Quinceañera, I can see why this small, made in three weeks, low budgeted ($250,000) film has garnered so many rave reviews. It is a truly heart warming film that has a marvelous and realistic bi-lingual script (Spanish and English with subtitles for ths parts in Spanish) it is wonderfully directed and MOST OF ALL, it has a GREAT bunch of actors giving GREAT performances. More importantly, for me, the movie gave me a cozy and warm feeling like one gets when one gets a comforting hug from a well thought of relative.
Emily Rios, as Magdalena is so very good! She at one moment is a very brash and sassy 15 year old Los Angeles teen eagerly awaiting the celebration--the Quinceañera. The next minute she is strong and resilient when faced with some nasty realities that life can dish out to us all. I fully expect Emily Rios to go on to be one of this country's greatest actresses. She is really that good. I adored Jesse Garcia, as her cousin Carlos--on the outside a heavily tattooed, willing to use his fists, pot-smoking thug but possessing a big heart that is capable of deep love for his elderly Uncle Tomas, capable of falling deeply in love and also capable of showing fierce family loyalties and willing to take on extreme responsibilities for his cousin after they all end up living under "one roof". I too expect great things in the acting department from Jesse. Chalo González, as Uncle Tomas is also great as the person that loves his family members no matter what they are doing or have done. In fact, everyone that appears in this film gives an outstanding performance.
I must add that the photography is great and the sound tract is fabulous ranging from Verdi's Aida to "Hip Hop" with loads of wonderful "Salsa" thrown in.
If you want to get a warm feeling from a film, buy this movie.