The Price of the American Dream
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| The Price of the American Dream | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jackie Torres |
| Produced by | Mario Ramirez Elart Coello |
| Written by | Screenplay: José Ramón Nevarez Jackie Torres |
| Starring | Mario Ramirez Jackie Torres Rebeca Silva Carlos Méndez Albertossy Espinoza Raquel Jimenez Gabriel Guillen Liz Paraoan |
| Cinematography | Arturo Bidart |
| Distributed by | Laguna Productions |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Language | English Spanish |
| IMDb profile | |
The Price of the American Dream is a 2001 film directed by Jackie Torres. The film was shot in Los Angeles, California and was the production debut for Laguna Productions.
[edit] Plot
The film follows the story of the Munoz family, one that immigrated to the United States years before any of their children were born, and the children seem to be the ones causing the problems.
Christian (Espinoza) is in a gang that constantly rivals against the other ones in Los Angeles. When a murder takes place on both sides, the gangs plot revenge against each other, throwing the other seven family members into trouble with the police. Laura Fernandez (Torres) who has just come in from Mexico to finish her masters at the University uses the family for her Sociology paper. With the two daughters partying all the time, the parents in their resignation towards their kids, and the ones who are trying to make things better and turns this into a book none of them will ever forget.
Even more problems begin to ensue, however, simply days before the Munoz parents are to get their legal citizenship papers. While partying, Maria (Jimenez) ends up in a car accident and is paralyzed from the waist down. Jackie (Paraoan) is at her boyfriends' party and she is raped by some of his friends. As well, Meno, who gets a scholarship in order to go to college gets shot due to Christians' sins in his gang. The price of the American dream, as Laura attests, may just be getting through the day alive.
[edit] Cast
- Mario Ramirez as Chendo, the eldest son.
- Jackie Torres as Laura, the goddaughter from Mexico.
- Rebeca Silva as Rosa Munoz, the mother.
- Carlos Mendez as Manuel Munoz, the father.
- Albertossy Espinoza as Christian, the gangbanger son.
- Raquel Jimenez as Maria, the party animal eldest daughter.
- Gabriel Guillen as Meno, the youngest son.
- Liz Paraoan as Jackie, the youngest daughter.
[edit] Sequel
A sequel, The Price of the American Dream II has also been produced through Laguna Productions and was directed by Michael Amundsen. The second one continued the story of the Munoz family in the second generation through Laura and Chendo's kids with Laura as the returning lead character.
