With passionate musical numbers and a vibrant Latinx diaspora, In the Heights is the perfect movie to watch in celebration of summer spirit.
In the Heights is a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The movie was produced by Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians, in collaboration with Miranda, who also created Hamilton.
The movie is set in Washington Heights and captures communal life in this New York City neighbourhood during the summertime. The movie’s focus shifts between Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), who dreams of becoming a fashion designer but struggles to obtain the funds necessary to buy her own studio, Nina Rosario (Leslie Grace), who is caught between continuing to attend Stanford University or return to Washington Heights to help with her dad’s business, and Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), who wants to return to the Dominican Republic to repair the childhood home where his late parents raised him.
The struggles faced by these characters are a reflection of their identities as children of immigrant parents and contribute to the film’s larger narrative of inequalities faced by immigrant communities. Usnavi, Vanessa and Nina try to uphold family and cultural values and expectations while also uncovering their own identities in an environment different from the one their parents grew up in; an issue not often brought to light in film.
While some audiences expressed disappointment over the lack of Afro-Latino representation, the movie also attempts to shed light on racism. When Nina explains why she decided to drop out of college, she mentions a racist incident during which she was accused of stealing her roommates pearl necklace and physically searched. She also talks about the time she was mistaken for a waitress at a prestigious university event.
These two issues combined together emphasize that everyone must work to create space for people of different cultures and ethnicities to feel culturally represented and not be defined by stereotypes. People of all backgrounds should be able to live life true to themselves, rather than feeling like they’re abandoning one part of themselves to satisfy another.
While some musicals are critiqued for using songs as a distraction from the plot of a story, In the Heights manages to incorporate its musical numbers into the movie in a way that doesn’t feel like a waste of time. Instead, the songs carry the plot through the lyrics.
The song Blackout is crucial to the plot as the characters begin to realize that the neighbourhood is going to be rezoned and developed into a financial business district. This part of the plot is also hinted at by Sunny (Usnavi’s brother) in the song 96,000.
Many of the songs in the movie are quite catchy and are sung in a way that allows a person to feel the singer’s emotion. When Nina performs the song Breathe, the happiness she feels in returning to her neighbourhood and the simultaneous fear she holds of disappointing her community can be felt through the screen.
Even the songs in the movie that aren’t quite as upbeat are still enjoyable to listen to, such as the song Alabansa (Praise). This song is sung to mourn the passing of the neighborhood’s surrogate grandmother in the film. It is a slow song that, accompanied by the scene of the neighbourhood residents walking together in a wake ceremony, conveys the deep sense of grief felt by the characters. I couldn’t help feeling sad for the characters who relied on her the most and no longer had her to look up to.
Fans of Miranda’s previous hit show, Hamilton, will appreciate the similarities in rhythm between the two shows and should pay attention to the easter eggs hidden throughout, such as cameos by cast members from the movie Hamilton.
The Latinx culture of the movie provides insight into the life of a neighborhood filled with diaspora and may appeal to fans of West Side Story, where Latinx culture is also prominent. Audiences may even pick up some Spanish words from the occasional Spanish conversations sprinkled throughout the English dialogue.
With the movie’s engaging plot, lively scenes and catchy tunes, In the Heights is a movie that one can easily find themselves enjoying and maybe even getting lost in the colourful storyline. If you’re looking for a wholesome and comforting movie to watch in the midst of a heatwave, look no further.
Once public health guidelines allow for it, have yourself un carnaval del barrio (neighbourhood carnival) and plan a screening of In the Heights for everyone to enjoy!
Featured image from IMBD.
