Traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their children Chucho, Paco, Memo, Irene, Toni, and Jimmy deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the '50s. As the second generation become adults in the '60s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Isabel (a Salvadorian refugee), their son, and Jimmy's journey to becoming a responsible parent.
Acting
Jimmy Smits delivers career-best vulnerability.
Direction
Nava's magical realist flourishes elevate ordinary moments.
Cinematography
East L.A. glows with lived-in warmth and specificity.
Director
Gregory Nava
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jennifer Lopez filmed this the same year as her breakthrough in Selena—1995 was her cinematic coming-out party.
Nava based much of the script on his own family's migration from Chihuahua; the 'miracle' elements are drawn from actual oral histories his grandmother shared.
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