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Quinceañera
Directed by: Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Emily Rios
Genre:
Drama/Independent
Run Time: 90
min.
Release Date:
August 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Knowing very little about
Quinceañera or what it meant to the Latin American culture, I
decided to watch QUINCEANERA because of its unique take on their
culture in the Echo Park region of L.A., and the touchy subject of
homosexuality within this demographic. Being an independent film was an
added bonus.
Pulling talent from the community in which the film was shot,
Quinceañera has no well-known actors and only a few with some
recognition. The exception is Chalo Gonzales who’s claim-to-fame was in
Sam Peckinpah’s 1969 smash, THE WILD BUNCH. Seen little since
then, Chalo picks up a great part in Quinceañera as an aging
uncle who plays more a bit part but gives the strongest performance in
the entire production.
Speaking of unknowns, I’m all for using them as long as they can act
modestly well and deliver lines. But if they don’t, you get a bit of a
mess. Wooden delivery abounds in Quinceañera, making many pivotal
scenes fall flat. There are a few well rendered moments but not enough
to make this film as great as it’s been made out. It’s seemingly
meteoric rise within the independent ranks is a bit baffling, garnering
such awards as the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Awards, and
several others.
For those not in the know, Quinceañera is the Latin American equivalent
to the Jewish bar mitzfah, but instead of hitting it at age 12 (for
Jewish girls) or 13 (boys), the Quinceañera is given to only girls at
age fifteen. Marking the transition from child to womanhood, many girls
in the Echo Park area look forward to their womanhood. But Magdalena
isn’t waiting. Finding herself with child before her Quinceañera
celebration, she leaves her hostile parents’ home and finds solace in
her elderly Uncle Tio’s (Gonzales) home. Already Living with Tio is
Magdalena’s gang-running and conflicted cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia).
Shunned by most of his family, Tio has taken Carlos in and nurtures him.
Carlos is dealing with sexual issues, too, finding partnership and love
in the arms of a gay couple who own the complex where Tio and he (and
now Magdalena) live.
The walls rapidly come tumbling down as conflicts between the upstairs
owners of Tio’s home come smashing in when they send an eviction notice
to Tio after breaking up with Carlos and wanting him far away. Tio’s
ailing spirit can’t stand the strain and this is where one of the only
well-acted moments of the film shows itself.
Eventually it is discovered that Magdalena got pregnant but still has
her hymen intact. A miracle? Or rare scientific event? That’s up to the
viewer to decide.
Regardless, Magdalena’s Quinceañera closes in and whether or not she’ll
attend and with whom is the big question.
This is a fairly good indie film but certainly not up to others I’ve
seen (i.e.,
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED, etc). I
commend all who took part in it as I think it is a noteworthy
achievement, just not an award winning one.
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Image from Quinceañera
DVD cost: $14.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Because many members of
the cast were not members of the Screen Actor's Guild, Chalo González
had to hand in his SAG card before he could play the role of Tio Tomas.
Movie Quote: "No
Momma, I haven't been with Herman."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Quinceañera
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