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Quinceanera (2006) DVD Review
Quinceanera (2006) DVD Credits:
Quinceanera (2006) Directed by:
Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Quinceanera (2006) Written by:
Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland
Quinceanera (2006) Cast:
Jesus Castanos, Araceli Guzman-Rico, Emily Rios, J.R. Cruz, Listette Avila
Quinceanera (2006) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Quinceanera (2006) DVD Release Date:
9th January 2007
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Quinceanera (2006) Synopsis:

Magdalena is 14 and anxiously awaiting her 15th birthday where she'll celebrate her quinceanara. Her world starts to crumble when she discovers her pregnancy after not being able to fit in her gown for her quinceanara. 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.

Quinceanera (2006) DVD Review:

Los Angeles teenager Magdalena (Emily Rios) is anticipating her Quinceanera, a lavish celebration of her fifteenth birthday and entering into womanhood. All of this is threatened when her preacher father discovers that she is pregnant. Magdalena is forced to move out of her house and in with her grandfather, who has also taken in Magdalena’s cousin, who was kicked out of his home for other reasons. The three of them live together in acceptance as they each are judged by other members of the family.

The loose dialogue with characters chattering for scenes can be somewhat realistic, but the level of entertainment relies far too heavily on the audience’s level of interest with many of the scenes involving the younger characters. It is often realistically, especially when all of the girls get together, but I wouldn’t be all that interested in real conversations with fifteen-year-old girls, and that translates to even less interest when it is on film. Often scenes drag with unnecessary dialogue because of this.

Where the film does succeed is with the twists along the way. Nothing seems staged, but just slowly creeps into the plot. Depending on how clever each viewer is these twists can be seen at the first hint, or eventually when it is directly addressed for those not as quick to pick up the hints. When a mystery of an unplanned pregnancy arises there is a tension awaiting the reveal about her claims that she is a virgin. Watching the film gave me a strange sensation which doesn’t happen often anymore; I was on the edge of my seat because I had no idea what was going to happen next. Writers/directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland use the streets of LA as a setting for the film, although never taking focus off of the characters to dwell on any specific element of the city.

The DVD contains a commentary track with filmmakers and cast, which can be a little confusing at points. There is also a featurette from the Los Angeles premiere of the film and one of behind-the-scenes footage. The only other special feature is a bonus scene.

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Quinceanera (2006) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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