My Family
Traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Maria and Jose, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their children Chucho, Paco, Memo, Irene, Toni, and Jimmy deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the '50s. As the second generation become adults in the '60s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Isabel (a Salvadorian refugee), their son, and Jimmy's journey to becoming a responsible parent.
Critics Sentiment
Jimmy learns to salsa with Isabel on the street
Chucho is shot dead by Los Angeles police in front of Jimmy
The film swings dramatically from Chucho's vibrant, charismatic presence to his tragic death by police, dropping 2.2 points in adjacent segments.
My Family receives consistent praise as a compelling multigenerational saga that effectively portrays Mexican-American experience through three generations. While critics appreciate the strong performances, particularly from Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales, and memorable scenes like the salsa dance, some felt the script relied too heavily on tragedy for emotional impact. The film succeeds as an epic family portrait despite occasional melodramatic tendencies.
Full cast
Edward James Olmos
Paco
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy
Esai Morales
Chucho
Jennifer Lopez
Young Maria
Jacob Vargas
Young Jose
Constance Marie
Toni
Jonathan Hernandez
Young Jimmy
Jenny Gago
Maria
Eduardo López Rojas
Jose
Rafael Cortés
Roberto
Mary Steenburgen
Gloria
Scott Bakula
David Ronconi
Elpidia Carrillo
Isabel Magaña
Dedee Pfeiffer
Karen Gillespie
Crew
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