My Family

Francis Ford Coppola and his American Zoetrope took a risk on filmmaker Gregory Nava, and I think it paid off. It's a multi-generational story beginning in the 1930's and ending in the 1970's. It's the story of a Mexican family, the patriarch of which walked a whole year from Mexico to Los Angeles. They endure hardships on the journey and they endure hardships once they arrive. Jimmy Smits turns in a fine performance as the angry, youngest son of the family. It's both funny and touching and sort of reminds me of those old family stories that we all have. If you like honest, family saga's, this is probably a film for you.