Paciencia y Fe đź“ş
In the Heights premiered in theaters and HBO Max and it was so entertaining to watch. I missed watching musical performances on the big screen and Lin Manuel Miranda and John Chu certainly did not disappoint.
I recently became a Lin Manuel Miranda fan after watching Hamilton last July on my home TV. This man is a genius—if I ever met him in person I would probably die.
I can’t believe it’s only been a year since I watched Hamilton. I remember it came out in July of 2020 and COVID had sunk into everyone’s reality and life was sad. It is July 2021 and a mask mandate was just implemented (again) due to the delta virus. Just when you think it’s over and everything is back to normal, COVID says “NOO!!”
In the Heights, it was so, so good! I had never listened to the original Broadway soundtrack and had never seen the show. The movie blew me away and was so funky, groovy, and beautifully made.
Many questions popped into my head while watching this movie like:
Do communities like this exist anymore?
What caused the romanticization of reverse-migration among immigrant families?
Other generational challenges that affect American immigrants?
“Little details, that tell the world we’re not invisible ”
In the Heights reconstructed this idea of a diverse community nestled in the ever-gentrifying city of New York. Lyrics in the songs depict a struggling, yet vivacious community that is torn between change and tradition. I think that LMM really defines a new, colorful definition of the American spirit and inspires the new generation.
One song particularly stuck with me: Abuela Claudia’s “Pacienca y Fe.” The lyrics in the song depicted such a vivid story of immigration. Abuela Claudia is reminiscing the obstacles her and her mother experienced once they set foot on American soil—from working tirelessly as maids, living paycheck to paycheck, and adjusting to a new definition of freedom.
I don’t want to ruin anything in the movie, but I highly recommend watching it! The music, choreography, editing, and overall performance is so spectacular and special.
I am happy that it’ll always remind me of Summer 2021.
Warner Bros. Pictures
