Quincea±era

Winner of the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, QUINCEA-ERA is a captivating tale of a teenager facing womanhood. Emily Rios gives a terrific performance as Magdalena, who wants everything to be perfect for her quincea±era--the celebration of her 15th birthday. But her preacher father (Jesus Casta±os-Chima) can't afford a new dress for her (instead, she has to wear a hand-me-down) and won't let her ride in a Hummer limo like her cousin Maria (Araceli Guzman-Rico) did for her party. Things become even worse when she gets pregnant--even though she swears she has never had sex with her boyfriend, Herman (J.R. Cruz), or anyone else. So Magdalena runs away to live with her great-uncle Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez as a gentle, sweet old man) and her cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia), the troubled black sheep of the family who is curiously attracted to Tio Tomas's new gay landlords (David W. Ross and Jason L. Wood). As Magdalena's quincea±era approaches, so many changes--and secrets--threaten to tear her family apart. Written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, QUINCEA-ERA, which features both English and Spanish, is set in the Latino community of Echo Park, Los Angeles. The filmmakers used many nonprofessional actors, hiring people from the neighborhood and shooting scenes in their homes and backyards, giving the movie a touchingly realistic feel. The excellent soundtrack by Micko and Victor Bock furthers the immersion of the audience into this tight-knit community.

3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's a pleasantly sweet exploration of adolescence, family, sexuality and the shifting demographic of a neighbourhood." - Total Film

"[T]he characters are all observed with clear-eyed affection, and the film builds to an emotionally shattering conclusion that encompasses loss and reconciliation." - Movieline's Hollywood Life

"[A]s smart and warmhearted an exploration of an upwardly mobile immigrant culture as American independent cinema has produced." - New York Times

"[A] Sundance favorite....Heartfelt..." -- Grade: A- - Entertainment Weekly

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