My Family (1995)

A man makes his way from Mexico to L.A. in the 1920s, gets married and raises a big family there. The movie follows the children until they, too, get married and have children in the 1960s.

Director:

Gregory Nava

Writers:

Gregory Nava, Anna Thomas

Stars:

Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales, Edward James Olmos

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward James Olmos	...	Paco
Rafael Cortes	...	Roberto (as Rafael Cortes)
Ivette Reina	...	Trini
Amelia Zapata	...	Roberto's Girlfriend
Jacob Vargas	...	Young Jose
Emilio Del Haro	...	Oxcart Driver
Abel Woolrich	...	Oxcart Driver
León Singer	...	El Californio (as Leon Singer)
Rosalee Mayeux	...	Maria's Employer
Jennifer Lopez	...	Young Maria
Alicia del Lago	...	Maria's Aunt
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	The Boatman (as Thomas Rosales)
Anthony Gonzalez	...	Baby Paco
Michael Gonzalez	...	Little Paco
Esai Morales	...	Chucho

Storyline

This epic film traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies and triumphs. Jose and Maria, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their children Chucho, Paco, Memo, Irene, Toni, and Jimmy deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the 1950s. As the second generation become adults in the 1960s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Isabel (a Salvadorian refugee), their son, and Jimmy's journey to becoming a responsible parent.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | prison | hood | marriage | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

Three generations of dreams.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, some graphic violence and a scene of sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 May 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cafe con leche

Filming Locations:

Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,164,840, 7 May 1995

Gross USA:

$11,079,373

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,079,373

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Playhouse, American Zoetrope, Majestic Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie, Jacob Vargas, and Lupe Ontiveros later worked together again in the autobiography of the late Tejano singer Selena.

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Goofs

When Isabella is at the Sanchez home, we see a medium shot of Paco with a bowl of popcorn, and Memo. In front of them is a tray of taquitos. But a minute or two later, Irene brings out the same tray and sets it down on the coffee table in front of them.

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Quotes

Jimmy: That was a political action. I'm a goddamned revolutionary!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Boys on the Side/Highlander: The Final Dimension/In the Mouth of Madness/The Secret of Roan Inish (1995)

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Soundtracks

One Summer Night
Written by Danny Webb
Performed by All-4-One
Published by PSO Limited
Courtesy of Blitzer-Atlantic Records

User Reviews

An epic saga about a Mexican American family in Los Angeles

My Family is a warm story that is not so far from reality. Esai Morales does an outstanding performance as Chucho, a rebellious, mambo dancing pachucho, who is misunderstood by his own father. Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smiths, and everyone else, are perfectly casted as well and none seem out of place. It is an epic saga about one family in Los Angeles, dreams, and what family is. This film has a lot of heart.