Summary:
A Mexican family tries to stay together in the film "My Family." Character descriptions of the family as well as a plot summary.
Character descriptions in the film "My Family":Family Descriptions
José Sanchez: Eduardo Lopez Rojas (1950 - 1980), and Jacob Vargas A very hard working, family oriented proud man who was a great role model for his children.
Maria Sanchez:Jenny Gago (1950 - 1980) a strong willed hard working, religious woman who's family meant everything to her. The monarch of the Sanchez family.
él Californio: Don Alejandro Vásquez a great uncle of José, very stubborn old man who stayed in California after the war, as far as he was concerned he was still in México.
Paco: Eduardo James Olmos, the eldest son of José and Maria, he grew up to be a writer and used his families journey for material.
Irene: is the oldest daughter, who enjoyed food. She was heavy as a kid, slimmed down and got married to Gerardo. She was soon heavy again. She was successful in her own right and owned her own restaurant.
Chucho: Esai Morales, he was a handful from birth. He used his pride in an unproductive way, unlike his father. He felt the racism of the 50's toward the Mexicans and it made him ashamed of his heritage. It is ironic because his dreams were exactly the same stereotype he so wanted to get away from.
Toni: the youngest daughter and she was the prettiest. She was headstrong, pushy and faithful to her god and family. She was passionate about life, liberty, and love. If something felt right she went for it, whole and hearty, regardless of what anyone else's opinions were.
Guillermo - (Memo): Enrique Castiliio he was very studious, he was always studying and you get the feeling that he knew it was his only way out.
Jimmy: Jimmy Smits youngest of all the children and loved them the hardest. The death of his brother killed him inside. The wall he put up only came down when the love over powered the hate in his life.
Isabel: Elpidia Carrillo an el Salvadorian, who's father was a disliked leader of a union there, an illegal alien working as a nanny for a rich couple. When she married jimmy she became, "free" but her morals and religious beliefs wouldn't let her take the vows of marriage lightly. She was a loving, persistent woman who didn't let her anger eat her alive.
Carlitos: Jimmy and Isabelle's son came into the world at a disadvantage and in some ways his heartache basically consisted of anger from both parents. He was his father's son though, you could tell by the wall around his heart.
Character Analysis
To me Jimmy was a very significant character in the movie from beginning to end. As a young boy he idolized his father in the Milpe (the cornfields). He also idolized his older brother, and enjoyed his role as the youngest. The bond between Jimmy and Chucho was very strong and healthy, in the time they did have together. He learned a lot of valuable life lessons from Chucho such as loyalty to your family along with loving them, regardless of the situation and a deep respect of self. I felt Jimmy died under the bridge along with Chucho that night, or at least part of him did! He also made me feel all of Chuchos bad qualities, like the hatred of the Placa (police), (because of the racism), and only being able to make real money (like the white man). If he took it or if he got illegally. Chucho might have been the one who got shot, but Jimmy's heart got shattered too. His life of self destruction began, and when he was older the only emotion he allowed himself to feel was anger and it controlled his every move. But just as Chucho was able to fill him with trust and love, Isabelle restored his faith of those qualities.
Just as Jimmy allowed himself to feel, and even work a honest day's work, over the bridge, he saw the owl. Along with his wife the owl took his trust and love again. Jimmy didn't feel like he could be a father to their son, or maybe he didn't want to pass on the anger that was passed onto him. He showed his son love, from afar and when he was released from the Pinta, he knew it was time to cross the bridge and come back to his loving family. His importance to the film showed that love can concur all. I feel it was a very realistic portrayal of a minority family and the trails, tribulations that they go through, and the strength and loyalty they have as a family!
The Ending
In the end of the film, it goes back into time so to speak. It started with Jose and Maria (Jefe and Jefita) and it also ended with them as well. It showed that regardless of the tragedies we go through in life; your life can still be rich and fulfilling as long as you have your family.
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