Rating: 
Summary: One Family's Journey & Struggles
Review: Spanning three generations, "My Family" ("Mi Familia" in Spanish) is fascinating account of one family's struggle to stay together and survive the mean streets of East Los Angeles. Narrated by Edward James Olmos ("Stand & Deliver"; television's "Miami Vice"), the film centers on a Mexican-American family who want to achieve the American dream, however they face obstacles along the way.The film, directed by Gregory Nava ("Selena") is an honorable, beautiful, and tragic masterpiece that captures the essence of what it is to be Latino in Southern California. Using realism and incorporating local and Mexican slang, Nava, along with writer Olmos provide the viewers with close yet a distant relationship with the family. Many actors, including Scott Bakula ("American Beauty"; television's "Quantum Leap"), Esai Morales ("La Bamba"; "Rapa Nui"), Michael DeLorenzo (television's "NY Undercover") and Lupe Otinveros ("Selena") lend their wonderful artistic support to this film, however the real scene stealer here has to be Jimmy Smits ("Old Gringo"; television's "NYPD Blue"), who plays younger brother Jimmy. Jimmy, who gets released from prison finds himself helping his sister, who was a former nun, in preventing the deportation of a young Salvadoran woman, who faces death if she was to return to war-stricken El Salvador. While he is coerced in marrying her, he believes it is only a short-term marriage. But when these two accidental-lovers get together and discover the beauty and support they lend to one another, love is here to stay. However all happy stories come with their tragic endings and Smits carries this film through most of its final stages with his effective acting. Whether it is dealing with intercultural marriages, street gang violence, or the everyday fears many illegal immigrants face each day with deportation lurking around the corner in some cases, "My Family" is an excellent portrait of how important culture and family are among Latino households. This is a must see film for anyone interested in Latino Studies. An excellent film and an eternal classic, "My Family" is a stunning film that should be watched by all who want to understand the history, legacy, and contributions of America's fastest growing minority group.
Rating:
Summary: Finally a real family
Review: The cinematic masterpiece Mi Familia captivates the reality of challenges that the traditional immigrant Mexican family has to go through. This production is amoung the best films for portraying the many sides and historical events in a typical Mexican family. The film gives a very important message that characterizes a traditional Mexican family, which is that love and unity of the familia can overcome many obstacles. From the beginning of the film the director Gregory Nava, shows us the historical background of all Mexican families. He shows the typical "indio" crossing the border with hopes for a future. This "indio", Jose Sanchez, hopes to begin a new life and family with Maria, a woman who he fell in love with in Los Angeles. As time goes by Jose and Maria start a family who they love and care for. As the family continues to grow emotionally and mentally, each one of them find themselves with their own obstacles to overcome. The character "Chucho", portrays a situation that often happens in "el barrio" these days. He shows the typical "pachuco" (gangster) getting in trouble because defends his dignity and his family name. As a result of a confrontation with a rival gang leader, Chucho gets in trouble and runs from the police. He is discriminated by the police, and killed. The death of "Chucho" leaves a scar on the family forever. Jimmy, the youngest son, is the member of the familia who gets affected the most. He becomes a "Pachuco" just like "Chucho". This rebellious change is a cause of the anger that he holds inside of him because of the discrimination that his brother suffered from. Jimmy goes to jail a couple of times, however, his parents always show their love and support through his tough life that is full of resentments. Most Mexican Familias hold feelings of resentment and anger towards the US governmental system because of all the challenges that a familia has to go through from the first time that we step on US territory. Mi Familia shows the struggles of the familia from the beginning of time with Jose's journey to US territory. Once on US grounds he searched for one of his lost family members in search for support and love. His uncle "El Norteno" gave him that family love and support and helped him get settled in the US. This shows the unconditional family support that the familia has towards one another through thick and thin. This support is very important specially when you are trying to settle a family in the US. There are many rules and regulations that immigration has towards immigrants, therefore most of the transactions are done illegally. Once settled here, most familias choose to clean up their record and become legal residents which starts to make their lives a little easier. The history given in the film relates to many Mexican families. Maria is a very important character that symbolizes the frustrated immigrant taken away by the government. She gets deported back to Mexico and is forced to leave her family for a year. Her belief in her own strength and love towards her family is the only thing that gives her hopes for success in the odyssey she had to take in order to return to her loved ones. Although the American society did not pay as much attention to this film as the Chicanos in America, it still received a lot of awards and recognitions by the Latinos. This film shows us the real lives of your everyday Mexican family, therefore, making it very easy for anyone to get in touch with their Latino side. Specially now, that almost 1/2 of the population in the US is Latino in one way or another, films like this are more respected. Overall, this film is one of the best films ever made and that gives its audiences real characters and real live situations that any immigrant can relate to. Sources Mi Familia. Dir. Gregory Nava Universal. MGM/CA, 1995
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: The movie depicted the stereotypical life style that people view Latinos as who are of Mexican ancestery and live in East Los Angeles. Having been raised and growing up in East Los Angeles, I see some of the humor, vugarism and traditions that this story tells. Everyone may not agree with what they see and hear, but once has to live and experience in order to understand...not necessarily agree. I think the movie depicts a Mexican family who goes through the ups and downs of being simply a minority group. Los Angeles is a diverse city and all cultures clash so I think this movie depicts the family clashing with others. Of course it does go into the "poor me, I'm a Hispanic" routine but unless you experience what it is like living in a multicultral city as Los Angeles and having to deal with all colors and greeds, then you would understand what it's all about.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: The movie depicted the stereotypical life style that people view Latinos as who are of Mexican ancestery and live in East Los Angeles. Having been raised and growing up in East Los Angeles, I see some of the humor, vugarism and traditions that this story tells. Everyone may not agree with what they see and hear, but once has to live and experience in order to understand...not necessarily agree. I think the movie depicts a Mexican family who goes through the ups and downs of being simply a minority group. Los Angeles is a diverse city and all cultures clash so I think this movie depicts the family clashing with others. Of course it does go into the "poor me, I'm a Hispanic" routine but unless you experience what it is like living in a multicultral city as Los Angeles and having to deal with all colors and greeds, then you would understand what it's all about.
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Lopez in "My Family"
Review: This acclaimed saga traces three generations of the Sanchez family and their trials and tribulations from their journey to California in the 20's, through the 1950's and into the 1960's.
Rating:
Summary: Gracias, Gregory Nava, para una pelicula maravillosa!
Review: This film is a true inspiration to me and gives us all a glimpse into the potential for positive representation of the Latino experience in the United States. The acclaimed director, producer and co-writer of this fantastic film, Mr. Gregory Nava, should've received an Academy Award for his masterful direction of this film, and I believe the actors in this film should've been acknowledged as well. At a time where we all need a voice and are searching for a means to express our experiences in the world, this film is such a blessing for us all to watch.
Through the eyes of three generations of the Sanchez family, a Mexican-American family based in East Los Angeles, we get a sense of their triumphs and struggles that are universal to the human condition, as well as the racism, discrimination, displacement and the struggle for bicultural identity that they all face together as the seasons change. Jose Sanchez, an ambitious young man from Michoacan walked across the border between Mexico and California when it was literally "a line in the dirt" and took up roots there to start a new life and raise a family. The young Jose is played by a beaming, soulful and spirited Jacob Vargas (an actor who has been made a fool of in numerous films since, in "token Latino roles" such as drug dealers and thugs--what a waste of phenomenal talent!), and is then by the legendary Mexican actor, Edward Lopez Rojas. His beautiful wife, Maria, who he first meets while clipping the hedges overlooking a mansion, while she is the nanny to a bunch of little children, is played by the young Jennifer Lopez, who is beautiful, glowing and full of life and courageous inner strength. The older Maria is played by a soulful and tender Jenny Gago. Other wonderful actors in this film include: Edward James Olmos (Paco Sanchez, their son and storyteller), Jimmy Smits (Jimmy Sanchez), Constance Marie (Antonia Sanchez), and Elpidia Carrillo (Isabel Sanchez, Jimmy's Salvadorean wife--a beautiful actress we have seen far too little of!).
The earthy cinematography in this film is comparable to the great murals and naturalistic portraits of Diego Rivera. The vibrant colors and wonderful flashbacks of Mexico make you feel like you are taking the journey with Jose Sanchez from Michoacan to Los Angeles. Beautiful, touching, warm, authentic and lovingly done. We need more films like this to encourage our youth, inspire the generation of today and reach people from all cultural backgrounds. Hopefully, with films like this, we can work toward bringing more projects about life, the experience of Latinos and bicultural identity to the foreground through film.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, it will make you laugh and cry!
Review: This film spans the life of a mexican immigrant and his children. Excellent acting by Esai Morales and Jimmy Smits.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful and Moving!!!
Review: This is a fine film that stresses the importance of culture and family while never losing its entertainment value. Following the same Mexican-American family from one generation to the next, the film crams a lot into a two hour running time, but the story is effective, well-told, and moving. While some of it was a bit far-fetched, especially Jennifer Lopez's opening bit as the younger version of Maria, the mother, crossing an angry river with her newborn son, the film does pick up and becomes a moving epic about a tough family and their struggles. The casting is terrific, each cast member very believable with their strong performances. I enjoyed this movie and it made me appreciate all my parents have done to keep our family together. This is a terrific slice-of-life made enjoyable by the realism and top-notch cast.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational!!!
Review: This movie is a typical view of the American audience towards the Hispanic family. Having actual Latin American actors made the film more credible. The cast did an excellent job, even though they came from different backgrounds. This film is definitely enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: To good to be summed up in one line!
Review: This movie is one of my favorites of all time. "La familia" grows as we are introduced to some of the most excruciating and joyful moments in their lives. Mexican traditions and their conflicts with American society are exposed while the family tries to maintain itself through the decades of change around them. Also, the cinematography and set design are outstanding, as the director really has caught the flavor of Mexican roots and placed it in the film.
|
