QUINCEAñERA (FILM)

'''Quinceañera''' is a 2006 American independent film written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. It was released as '''Echo Park, LA''' in the UK. Set in Echo Park, Los Angeles, the film deals with the two young Hispanic cousins who become estranged from their families: Magdalena due to her pregnancy, and Carlos due to his sexuality.

Contents

Plot

Exhibition and responses

Cast

External links

Plot

Magdalena, who is preparing for her Quinceañera, discovers that she is pregnant. At first her boyfriend doesn't believe her, because the sex they had was without penetration. When her father, the minister in a storefront church, learns of her predicament, he doesn't believe that she is a virgin, and banishes her from their home. Abandoned by her boyfriend and her family, she moves in with her elderly great-uncle, Tomas.
Also living with Tomas is Magdalena's cousin, Carlos, who works at a car wash, and has also been banished by his parents because they suspect he is gay. Tomas's new landlords, a gay couple, invite Carlos to their housewarming party, and subsequently seduce him. Carlos begins an affair with one of them; when the other discovers the affair, Tomas and his young charges are evicted from their home.
Magdalena and Carlos each try to save their little family. Magdalena tries to find them all a home, and Carlos resolves to find a better job so that he can support them while Magdalena finishes school. Overcome with grief at losing his home, Tomas dies. This results in a reunion between Magdalena and her mother, who takes Magdalena to a doctor. The doctor confirms that Magdalena's hymen is intact, and that pregnancy without sexual intercourse is possible. Magdalena reconciles with her parents at Tomas's funeral, and the film ends with Magdalena's quinceañera.

Exhibition and responses

The film was first screened at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the 'Independent Film Competition: Dramatic' category. It was also selected to play in the 2006 Berlin Film Festival. It was then picked up for US distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.

Cast

★ Emily Rios — Magdalena

★ Jesus Castanos-Chima — Ernesto

★ Jesse Garcia — Carlos

★ Alicia Sixtos — Eileen

★ J.R. Cruz — Herman

★ Chalo Gonzalez — Tio Tomas

★ David W. Ross — Gary

★ Jason L. Wood — James

External links

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