Common Sense Media Review
Smart coming-of-age drama for older teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Quinceañera
What's the Story?
The winner of the Audience and Grand Jury prizes at Sundance, QUINCEANERA follows a couple of coming-of-age tales. Living in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Cousins Magdalena (Emily Rios) and Carlos (Jesse Garcia) both find themselves kicked out of their homes for very different reasons. Carlos' conservative father cannot accept the fact that his son is gay. Magdalena's been sent away by her father, Pastor Ernesto (Jesus Castanos-Chima), after he learns that she's pregnant, just weeks shy of her quinceañera -- 15th birthday. Though Magdalena tells her father she has never had intercourse with her straight-A student boyfriend, the adults don't believe her. Taken in by their great-great uncle Tomas (Chalo Gonzalez), Magdalena and Carlos learn to support one another even when they feel rejected by their own fathers.
Is It Any Good?
This worthwhile movie is about property as well as propriety. For one thing, the neighborhood is in the process of "gentrification": as poor Hispanic residents are pushed out by younger, wealthier white buyers, generational expectations change. Carlos surfs the Net; Magdalena and friends want to purchase U.S. mass-marketed merchandise (clothing and food). Both angry fathers represent a losing effort to maintain "the old ways." Their inflexibility is contrasted with Tomas' openness to change, his generosity, and unconditional love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationships between parents and children. How do Magdalena and Carlos' fathers react to their children's unexpected situations, and how could they have responded differently? They can also talk about gentrification; is it a positive or negative trend?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 4, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2007
- Cast : Emily Rios , Jesse Garcia , Jesus Castanos
- Director : Richard Glatzer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Lesbian Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, some sexual content and drug use
- Last updated : July 22, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate