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. Living with Tio already is Magdalena's gang-running and conflicted cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia). Shunned by most of his family, Tio has taken him 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.
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. Living with Tio already is Magdalena's gang-running and conflicted cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia). Shunned by most of his family, Tio has taken him 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.