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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,689,999, 5 November 2006

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

In the scene where Magdalena deletes the pictures of Herman, she is shown using a Boost i860 phone. When the screen of the phone is shown, it is clearly a Samsung A670 she is using.

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Quotes

Carlos: Nobody believes you, huh?
Magdalena: About what?
Carlos: "About what?", come on!
Magdalena: [pauses] No.
Carlos: Yeah, nobody believed me about anything all my life.
Magdalena: That's because you're a liar, and a thief, and a pothead. And a gay.
Carlos: [Makes face] So?

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Connections

References House of Wax (2005)

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Soundtracks

Bailar Merengue
Performed by Mangana
Written by Edith Mesch
Courtesy of LoveCat Music
Published by Big Tiger Music (BMI)

User Reviews

Echo Park and Jesse Garcia

A slice of life from a very recognizable other planet. The Echo Park section of Los Angeles. It could be so many other places and at the same time it couldn't be anywhere else. New life and death co-mingling in almost perfect harmony. Love coming out of the most unexpected quarters, heroic gestures, prejudice and solitude. There is much to commend in this tiny tale with major implications. Two directors with a compassionate look and real affection. For me, personally, meant the introduction to a major talent: Jesse Garcia. He plays a character that seems to walk a permanent tight rope and yet he is so completely himself that you can't take your eyes of the guy because you know for certain he is going to surprise you in the best possible way. Excellent.