The film Quiceanera takes you on a 14 year old girls journey of finding out she is pregnant while preparing for her quiceanera. It demonstrates how Latino traditions have carried out in LA and the conflicts between generations here. The film connects the audience to the gentrification in Echo Park really well and demonstrates the heartbreak that families (mostly Latino) are going through in the area. Throughout the story the main character builds a strong relationship with her great uncle and gay cousin who seem to be the outcasts of the family.
The main character Magdalena gets pregnant at 14 even though she did not actually have sex with the boy, Herman. Her family is living comfortably in Echo Park with her dad being a pastor and the mom selling tamales. When her mom realizes what has happened she tells the father and he kicks Magdalena out of the house. She moves in with her uncle Thomas who sells champurrado in the neighborhood and has his own house with a big garden and his pet dogs. Her cousin Carlos already lives with Thomas because the family had basically disowned him for being a trouble maker and gay. Throughout the movie the 3 of them build a strong relationship because Carlos steps up to help with the baby and Magdalena is supportive of his lifestyle.
Carlos falls right in the center of the issues of gentrification within the movie, he finds himself in a mess with the gay white couple who moved in next door. They all admire him because he is like something exotic to them. At their house warming party, friends are constantly talking about how much the market has gone up there. Towards the end, the always happy uncle receives a heartbreaking notice of eviction. He loved his house and his garden and his dogs and even walking the neighborhood every day as the champurrado man. As an effect of gentrification, the family can not seem to find him anything that they can afford that isn’t tiny. The scene that really was heartbreaking is when he sits in his garden crying because the entire film he was such a happy man.
He died shortly after and in a way he died with his house. Many places in LA are undergoing gentrification and those being kicked out are mostly Latino. They cannot afford the extreme increases of the area and they are being forced out of their homes. Most families in Echo Park were getting buy with minimum wage jobs; families like the one in this movie. I could really relate to this movie because the uncle reminds me so much of my grandma. She lives in Anaheim in her house that she has had for almost 50 years and she has a big garden that has always been a part of her life. She loves her plants and taking care of them. She is pretty healthy for her age and keeps herself busy, all of the neighbors are also Latinas and they get together all the time and take walks or play cards. This film made me realize how this could happen to her especially since she lives right by Disneyland and it would devastate her just like the uncle. Health does go hand in hand with happiness it seems once someone has lost the will to live, they die.
This film is something most Latino people in LA can really identify with and enjoy. This is a quote of a part that made me laugh because I used to ask questions like this all the time as a little kid:
” Why is Tio Thomas eating worms?”
“It’s not worms it’s the fat from the meat.”
Having a young mother myself, we have never talked about that fact that she had me at such an early age. Growing up, this was always my fear knowing that my mom had me at such a young age. I vowed to break that chain and I’m happy to say, that it stopped with me. Recently I went to a quincearia and it was a beautiful event for this young girl, to be welcomed by her family, as her father lead her into the room. Traditions are a beautiful thing but it’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t happen the way you had hoped. Families need to embrace and support you no matter what life has thrown at you. In your review the uncle and cousin embraced this girl and gave her the love and support she needed.
quincearera
As a male it is difficult to understand the concept of the 15th year milestone but as a father i would understand because of the transition from childhood to women hood. It is very important time in a girl’s life. I grew up in a time when teenage pregnancy was a common occurrence. Few girls had kids at early ages and i have seen how fast they to grow up. It is very important that parents speak to their kids about the consequences about unprotected sex. As for the gay gang member, it is taboo. It is not socially acceptable among gang members to be homosexual and in a gang, Finally as gentrification it does benefit property owners because people buy homes as an investment.
As Latinos we do have to go through so many obstacles in life, many times because we do not have an education in order for us to have a good life. Other reasons for not being able to afford what other people own is because of the paper which does not allow people from earning a decent wage. In the Latino communities, there are still fathers that are very machista and if their daughters end up getting pregnant at a young age, they disown them and kick them out the house. Sometimes, they end up living with their boyfriends family and if the boyfriend gets kicked out, they end up in the streets. I do agree, with you in the point you make about people loving their gardens and being happy at home. You are also. correct when you mention that health and happiness go hand and hand. When people lose the will to live they end up dying at the end. Parents should talk to their children about the consequences of having unprotected sex, unfortunately, many Latino parents do not talk to their children about those things.
This movie gives a view of actual scenarios. How often and true is this story. A young girl happened to become pregnant at such a young age. Furious parents kicking the teen out of the house or teens running away when they need their parents the most. Or the issue of the Uncle losing his house to a new young couple that moved in to a neighborhood that is changing from old residents to younger residents changing the census of that area. Families seem to have an out burst of reactions when something they didnt plan on happens, but hopfully and luckily they come together at the end. And that is what family is for. Nice pick! cute movie!
This another film that I have never seen. Before this class I had always thought that I have seen a lot of films, but now I realize I have not seen a lot of Latino films. After reading your intriguing film review, I intend to watch it. You and this film describe a lot of what Latinos are going through, especially in Los Angeles. I read a book called Domestica, which gave me a huge insight of what Latina woman are forced into for jobs. I really liked how throughout your film review you gave examples and similarities in life and other films. You didn’t just break it up into paragraphs of each. I waited to have my daughter until I was in my late twenties, mostly because I was selfish and wanted to party. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be a teenage mother, and I give the upmost respect to teenage mothers, because I know how hard it is to be a parent at 33 years old. Latinos being kicked out of their neighborhoods has been going on for a long time, such as during the 1950’s in Los Angeles. There was to be a baseball field built and many Latinos were either kicked out of their homes or forced to sell their homes for very low prices, and the worst part of it all the building of the stadium fell through. So it was all for nothing.
Okay so I would watch this! And I’m glad for the culture and if I could see coming into womanhood from another culture. Puberty is something we all experience so if looked at from a different perspective we could help us to understand the situation and life. With this we can learn about each other and gain respect I actually think all women of all culture should practice a quinceanera it’s an awesome triadition!
As I read your post, I remembered my mom’s story, which is a little different but similar. She had her Quincenera and months later she married. She said she had the chance to wear two beautiful white dresses and two celebrations. It was very common in the pueblo she lived to marry around sixteen and then have children. She also mentioned that this took place since many young adults and men immigrated to the United States of America young. Some forgot about their wife in Mexico and will marry again in the United States, but not everyone. I have never seen pictures of her Quincenera or wedding. This film also portrays the stereotype of Latinas becoming pregnant at a young age. I read an article last week that this phenomenon has changed over the past five years; teen pregnancy among Latinas has decreased.
Hello Gerardo,
As a woman, mom, and Latina I understand the importance of the transition from a girl to a young woman, but I think it is a waste of money. That money can be invested in the young girl’s education, car, or a house. I never understood why young man’s transition was not celebrated as much. Learning the history of why the celebration of Quinceneras is a bit depressing too.
Have a good summer.