Lin-Manuel Miranda takes his first critically acclaimed Broadway musical, In The Heights, to the big screen in a movie adaptation.
An ode to Miranda’s childhood, the musical turned film tells the story of Washington Heights, a predominantly Domincan neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City.
Vibrant colors, upbeat energy, and soft melodies surround the strong sense of belonging for the characters within Washington Heights. The film pays homage to the highly diverse and creative Latinx communities within the nooks of big cities such as New York.
The film opens with the main character, Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos) talking to a group of children. The audience is continuously brought back to this moment in the film as Usnavi recounts his life in Washington Heights to the children on a beach in the Dominican Republic. He tells the stories of formative people in the community who were pursuing their dreams, or as they call them “sueñitos,” in the face of adversity.
Due to rising rent and costs due to gentrification, homegrown salon owners, businesses and community members are forced to put their lifestyles and dreams on hold.
Usnavi is informed that his late father’s business in the Dominican Republic is up for sale. With dreams of reviving the bar, Usnavi must conjure up enough money to return to the Dominican Republic and save the business.
Sonny de la Vega (Gregory Diaz IV), Usnavi’s younger cousin struggles with his status as an undocumented immigrant when Usnavi asks him to return to the Dominican Republic with him.
Nina Rosario (Leslie Grace), Usnavi’s childhood friend, returns to the Heights for the summer. Throughout her visit, she struggles to inform her father that she has dropped out of Stanford University because they cannot afford tuition. Her father ensures her that he will pay her tuition, but Nina knows it is not financially attainable without selling his Taxi business.
Salon owner Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega) is forced to move locations due to rising rent, along with her employees and clients, to the Bronx.
Neighborhood heartthrob and Usnavi’s romantic interest, Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), longs to move downtown, where she dreams of becoming a fashion designer. However, her dreams are pushed aside when her rental applications are denied and she must continue to work at Daniela’s salon.
Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) who became Usnavi’s caretaker after his parents passed, often spends her time in the Heights reminiscing on her life in Cuba, before facing the daily hardships she and her community endures today. Her mantra of “paciencia y fe,” patience and faith, rings throughout the movie as a reminder to persevere.
On top of their own personal hardships at the hands of financial disparity, the community is daunted by an electrical blackout throughout the barrio. The blackout occurs due to the intense summer heat and causes local businesses to temporarily close and as a result, lose income.
The power loss reflects the lack of power they experience in the face of gentrification and a widening financial disparity.
The struggles faced by the barrio force many to sacrifice the lives they have built in the Heights in order to obtain a life of financial freedom, justice and respect.
Each character faces their own struggle in the barrio, however they work together in pursuit of their individual sueñitos. The sense of community, as well as love for music and dance, drives the characters to appreciate where they came from and where they are going.
This movie will leave you walking through your house belting out the lyrics and dancing to the beats.
I rate it a 10/10.
