- published: 30 Jan 2016
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Quinceañera is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. It was released as Echo Park, LA in UK. Set in Echo Park, Los Angeles, the film follows the lives of two young Mexican American cousins who become estranged from their families: Magdalena because of her unwed teenage pregnancy and Carlos because of his homosexuality. The third issue entered upon by the film is the gentrification of a populous district of Los Angeles, and the resultant culture clash.
The film is spoken in the mixture of English and Spanish ("Spanglish") used by bilingual people who switch easily from one tongue to another; some of the humor is best appreciated by bilingual viewers.
As Magdalena's (Emily Rios) 15th birthday approaches, her working-class family prepares for the important Quinceañera, a lavish coming-of-age celebration. To help with expenses Magdalena is forced to wear a hand-me-down party dress and abandon her dream of arriving in a Hummer limousine. But when her father discovers she is pregnant and refuses to believe the incredible truth — she is still a virgin — Magdalena moves in with her elderly Uncle Tomas (Chalo González) and black sheep cousin Carlos (Jesse Garcia). Her newfound family is soon put to the test when an unexpected crisis threatens to tear them apart, and Magdalena learns what it truly means to come of age.