Centerpiece: Quinceañera

Fri., June 30, 7 p.m.

Mann Festival Theatre

Magdelena has been planning every detail of her quinceañera for months-the music, the dress, the floral arrangements, the stretch Hummer-every detail, that is, but one: her unexpected pregnancy. Rejected by her father, Magdelena moves in with her great uncle Tomas and her cholo cousin Carlos in their small back house, nestled in the hills of Echo Park. Surrounded by the mementos of Thomas’ vibrant life on Los Angeles’ east side, the three find a haven from their problems, but only temporarily. Magdelena’s fifteenth birthday is drawing near, as is her due date, and their new landlords, an affluent gay couple, are a bellwether of changes to the neighborhood.

In addition to marking a girl’s transition between girlhood and womanhood, a quinceañera is also an opportunity for a community to come together, which is exactly what happened in the making of this beguiling film. Filmmakers Richard Glazer and Wash Westmoreland live in Echo Park and shot nearly the entire movie within a mile of their front door. Neighbors became extras, brought food to the set, and served as quinceañera consultants, as the filmmakers set out to capture the marvelous warmth and charm of their Latino community. The result is an absolute delight to watch, a heartwarming celebration of family, time-honored traditions, and the irrepressible spirit of youth. 90 min.

DIRECTOR Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
WRITER Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
PRODUCER Anne Clements
CAST Emily Rios, Jesse Garcia, Chalo Gonzalez, Jesse Garcia, David W. Ross, Jason L. Wood