‘In The Heights’: Can one film bring joy — and spark a Latino conversation on race?

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As 'In The Heights' reaches its last week in theaters, it has sparked praise from Latinos thrilled to see themselves represented as smart and in control of their lives, while also receiving criticism for its lack of diverse Black Latino main characters.

tells the story of a multigenerational community of Latino residents and business owners grappling with the realities of rising rents, college costs, prejudice and the pull of their home countries. But they also know what they want to achieve and how to get it done, with an ending that is about progress and finding one's place — even in a city as challenging as New York.

Fans such as Xavier Reyes worry over how the recent criticism seems to have overshadowed some of the movie's great strides. The Puerto Rican actor based in New York City, said"In The Heights" left him “speechless." Others who defended the film felt the criticism missed the fact that one of the lead female characters, Nina, is played by the Bronx-born Dominican singer and actor Leslie Grace, who is Afro Latina., you see there's a lot of Afro Latinos in there, dancers, singers, people with one-lines and then you have the leads. You have Leslie Grace, you have Dascha Polanco," said Fanny Grande, a Los Angeles-based Venezuelan American filmmaker and actor.

Jose Gonzalez stands inside Thalia Decoraciones, a small business he owns with his mother in Washington Heights, N.Y.José González, who owns a small decor store with his mother in Washington Heights, saw the film with other neighborhood residents who were invited to the movie’s Tribeca Film Festival premiere in the nearbyin June. He remembers feeling captivated by the choreography filmed inside the neighborhood's Highbridge Pool, with hundreds of Latino and Black dancers.

 

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The “Heights” is neighborhood Washington Heights (somewhat 180th street to 204th street in western northern Manhattan Island). This region has had differing peoples and religions—now mostly Dominican peoples.

Sorry, I am confused.

What a shame what happened to this movie the 1st latino casted big musical got screwed…

It was pure latinx no doubt about it. I enjoyed every moment seeing it in my own eyes but the commercial progress felt stagnant.

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