Quinceañera (2006)

As Magdalena's 15th birthday approaches, her simple, blissful life is complicated by the discovery that she's pregnant. Kicked out of her house, she finds a new family with her great-granduncle and gay cousin.

Directors:

Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland

Writers:

Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland

Stars:

Emily Rios, Jesse Garcia, Chalo González

7 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jesus Castanos	...	Ernesto (as Jesus Castanos Chima)
Araceli Guzman-Rico	...	Maria
Emily Rios	...	Magdalena
J.R. Cruz	...	Herman
Listette Avila	...	Jessica
Alicia Sixtos	...	Eileen May Garcia
Hector Quevedo	...	Dancing Boy
Germán Campos	...	Chambelàn (as German Zavala)
Carlos Linares	...	Videographer
Johnny Chavez	...	Uncle Walter
Carmen Aguirre	...	Aunt Silvia
Margarita Lugo	...	Aunt Candy
Jorge Ortiz	...	DJ
Veronica Sixtos	...	Young Girl
Jesse Garcia	...	Carlos

Storyline

Magdalena is 14 and anxiously awaiting her 15th birthday where she'll celebrate her quinceañera. Her world starts to crumble when she discovers her pregnancy after not being able to fit in her gown for her quinceañera. Soon, she's kicked out of her home, abandoned by her family, and abandoned by her baby's father. Magdalena is then taken in by her great-granduncle, Tomas and her gay, often-in-trouble cousin, Carlos. There she finds a new family and life.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | 15th birthday | birthday | party | security guard | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

5 July 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Echo Park, L.A.

Filming Locations:

Echo Park Lake, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$95,400, 6 August 2006

Gross USA:

$1,692,693

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,522,787

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinetic Media, Kitchen Sink Entertainment LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 90 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because of time constraints, the producers had still not found an actor to play James just before shooting was set to start, so they asked the casting director, Jason L. Wood, to play the part, because they liked how he had read the part as the other side of dialogue during actors' auditions. Wood was hesitant to take an acting part because he was worried that it might be a conflict of interest with his career as a casting agent, but he finally relented when the producers assured him he wouldn't have to cry in the film.

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Goofs

When Herman describes his busy weekend, he states that he is taking his AP History exam on Saturday. AP exams are only given on weekdays.

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Quotes

Carlos: [Tio Tomas consoles Magdalena] Hey.
Tio Tomas Alvarez: Carlos. I just made some tea, would you like some?
Carlos: Nah, I'm straight.

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Connections

Featured in 2006 Glitter Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

Triumphal March
from the opera 'Aida'
Composed by Guiseppe Verdi
Performed by The Multimedia Stars
Copyright owned by Multimusic, Inc.

User Reviews

How to Make a Great Movie with a Very Low Budget

In Echo Park, Los Angeles, the teenager Eileen May Garcia (Alicia Sixtos) has a dream fifteen years old party. Her cousin Magdalena (Emily Rios) is fourteen years old and will be the next in the family to celebrate the "Quinceañera". However, her father is the local preacher and security guard and cannot afford and expensive party and Magdalena will wear her cousin's dress and dreams on arriving in a limousine like Eileen did. However, her dreams are shattered when she finds that she is pregnant of her boyfriend Herman (J.R. Cruz), in spite of being virgin. Her father expels her from her home and she moves to the house of her uncle Tomas Alvarez (Chalo González), who lodges his troublemaker gay nephew Carlos (Jesse Garcia) in his house, and the trio raises family bonds.

"Quinceañera" is the evidence that it is possible to make a great movie with a very low-budget, supported by excellent screenplay and performance. The enlightened character Tomas that survives selling "champarraro" is one of the most beautiful I have recently seen. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Meus Quinze Anos" ("My Fifteen Years")