My Family
Directed by Gregory Nava (Selena), this ambitious story chronicles the Sanchez family as told by the eldest son (Olmos). From the very beginning of his father's adventurous journey from Mexico to California in the 1920s, to the stark realities of modern day, the struggle to live the American dream is sometimes darkened but never diminished.
Member Reviews
ok - bosoxx
I was cheering for this film.I can see why its important in its way given the topic..There were touching moments but I wasnt captivated by it. Maybe it was just me at the time. Nevertheless, I am sure some moviegoers will respond as a previous reviewer did.Three generations of family in this moving epic - AvidOscarBee
Directed by Gregory Nava with such passion, depth and feeling and with the beautiful narration of Edward James Almos, he helps tell this amazing story of a Mexican American family that spans three generations living in East Los Angeles.
We begin the film in the 1930s, with Jacob Vargas (who plays Jose, husband of Maria) and Maria played by Jennifer Lopez (who plays young Maria Sanchez for about 30 minutes in the movie). This was her first feature film and you can see how ethnic and authentic she looked at the time. She gave a good performance. We watch them as a young couple struggle at a time when immigrants were looked down upon so much that if you were walking down the street and you "looked mexican/hispanic", they would throw you on a train and deport you. This happened one day to Maria who was 5 months pregnant with her son at the time. As Jose and Maria age, the focus of the film shifts to their son, Jimmy (played by the magnificent Jimmy Smits), who is very angry and bitter due to the cirumstances in his life and that of his parents. His family's journey starts in 1960s and his bossy sister asks him to marry a girl so that she does not get deported and killed. Although very reluctant, he decides to do it. She holds marriage as sacred and doesn't understand that he only did it as a favour to his sister and not because he loved her. Soon that all changes and they fall in love and have a son. Jimmy gets incarcerated again and misses the formal years of his son's growth. When reintroduced to his son at about age 6, the boy is defiant, hates him and is convinced he is not his real father. It's beautiful how you see them work through their anger to come together. This movie is heartfelt and a must see.
The round up of actors includes the passionate Esai Morales (plays troubled gang member, Chucho), Samuel Hernandez (plays Mariachi), Jenny Gago (plays a very moving performance as Maria Sanchez).
Member Reviews
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ok - bosoxx
I was cheering for this film.I can see why its important in its way given the topic..There were touching moments but I wasnt captivated by it. Maybe it was just me at the time. Nevertheless, I am sure some moviegoers will respond as a previous reviewer did.Three generations of family in this moving epic - AvidOscarBee
Directed by Gregory Nava with such passion, depth and feeling and with the beautiful narration of Edward James Almos, he helps tell this amazing story of a Mexican American family that spans three generations living in East Los Angeles.
We begin the ...