In the Heights

**In the Heights** is a 2021 American musical drama film based on the stage musical of the same name by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay by Hudes, the film stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits. The film follows a similar plot to the musical, telling the story of a corner in Washington Heights, New York City, where each member of the community pursues their dream of a better life.

## Plot

Usnavi de la Vega tells children the story of Washington Heights. Usnavi owns a bodega and introduces Abuela Claudia, the matriarch of the neighborhood who raised him; Kevin Rosario, who runs the taxi company; Kevin's employee and Usnavi's best friend, Benny; the salon ladies Daniela, Carla, and Cuca; Vanessa, Usnavi's love interest; and Usnavi's cousin Sonny, who he employs ("In the Heights").

Alejandro, Usnavi's attorney, informs Usnavi that his late father's business in the Dominican Republic, which Usnavi dreams of reviving, is for sale. Meanwhile, Kevin's daughter Nina returns from Stanford. After a quick reunion with Benny ("Benny's Dispatch"), she goes to find her father and tells him that she was unable to pay her tuition, but he brushes her off, telling her not to worry ("Breathe").

Daniela's salon will soon be moving to the Grand Concourse due to rising rent. Nina arrives for a treatment but reveals that she has dropped out of Stanford, and leaves ("No Me Diga"). Vanessa submits a rental application downtown, where she dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She is unable to provide a good credit check and her application is rejected. Disappointed, she heads back and drops by Usnavi's bodega, where Sonny asks her out on Usnavi's behalf ("It Won't Be Long Now").

Sonny learns a lottery ticket the bodega sold won $96,000. Usnavi and the rest of the neighborhood fantasize about what they would do with the money ("96,000"), while the Piragüero laments how a Mister Softee ice cream truck is stealing his business ("Piragua"). That weekend, Benny and Nina reminisce about their childhoods. She expresses her doubts and fears, but he reassures her that she is destined for greatness ("When You're Home"). Meanwhile, Usnavi talks to Sonny's father about letting him go with him to the Dominican Republic, but Sonny's father implies he and Sonny are undocumented immigrants and cannot leave.

That evening, Kevin reveals he sold his business to pay for Nina's tuition. Outraged, Nina refuses the money and storms out. Usnavi and Vanessa head to the club for their date, along with Benny and Nina ("The Club"). At the club, Usnavi is nervous and aloof, and Vanessa dances with other men, making Usnavi jealous, so Usnavi tries to make her jealous in return. The power goes out ("Blackout"), and Sonny and Graffiti Pete light up fireworks, illuminating the neighborhood. Vanessa and Usnavi argue, and she angrily rejects him.

Lying in bed, Abuela reminisces about her childhood in Cuba ("Paciencia y Fe"), and how she and her mother came to New York, enduring hardships to be where she is today. She passes away, and the neighborhood comes together to mourn and sing her praises ("Alabanza"). At a protest for DACA, Nina learns that Sonny cannot go to college as he is undocumented. She resolves to go back to university to find a way for undocumented immigrant children to find a pathway in life.

Usnavi discovers Vanessa's rental application that she had thrown away. He visits Daniela as she is preparing to move, asking her to co-sign on Vanessa's application. Disappointed with the block's negativity over the blackout and Abuela's passing, Daniela rouses them into a celebration and the blackout ends ("Carnaval del Barrio").

A month later, Nina is about to return to Stanford, and she and Benny agree to pursue a long-distance relationship. Benny promises to find a way to join her in Palo Alto, and they kiss ("When the Sun Goes Down"). As Usnavi prepares to leave for the Dominican Republic, he discovers that Abuela held the winning lottery ticket, and has passed it on to him. Vanessa shows up, having found out that Usnavi convinced Daniela to co-sign on her lease, and bought him a bottle of champagne to thank him ("Champagne"). She suggests that Usnavi should stay, but he refuses. Distraught, she kisses him, lamenting that she was too late in realizing her feelings.

Usnavi gives Alejandro the lottery ticket, telling him to use it for Sonny's DACA fees and trust fund. The next morning, Usnavi runs into Vanessa. She takes him to the boarded-up bodega and shows him a new fashion line she created the previous night, having been inspired by Graffiti Pete's paint rags. On seeing Pete's murals celebrating Abuela, Usnavi has an epiphany and decides to stay ("Finale"). The story returns to the present day, where Usnavi is revealed to be telling his story in the new shop that he and Vanessa built together, having married, and one of the children is Usnavi's daughter. They sing and dance in the street.

In a post-credits scene, the Piragüero gains a ton of customers when the Mr. Softee truck breaks down. He then gives a piragua to the driver of the truck, as the latter watches all his lost customers crowd the piragua cart ("Piragua [Reprise]").

## Why The Streets Have Paciencia y Fe

1. It adapts the musical perfectly, making some significant changes while still sticking to the original show's story.
2. The acting, especially Hamilton alumni Anthony Ramos, is impressive, almost making it feel like an actual musical and not a movie. There's even a cameo from Christopher Jackson, another Hamilton alumn and the original actor for Benny, that's pretty clever.
3. Great cinematography.
4. Amazing choreography and direction from Jon M. Chu, making it one of, if not the best film of his filmography.
5. The scene where Benny and Nina sing the song 'When the Sun Goes Down' while dancing on the walls is beautifully shot and edited.
6. It explores the setting of Washington Heights perfectly.
7. The takes on songs such as In the Heights, 96,000, Champagne, Blackout, When the Sun Goes Down, and especially Paciencia Y Fe are brilliant renditions.
8. Characters like the kids, Benny, Abuela Claudia, Nina, and Vanessa are still memorable characters, but it's Usnavi himself who really steals the show.
9. There's a clever in-joke where the Hamilton song "You'll Be Back" was heard as hold music.
10. It expands more on Vanessa's subplot from the original musical.

## Bad Qualities

1. The musical numbers sometimes go on for too long, few of which can exceed approximately **10 minutes** at a time. This isn't too much of an issue, since the choreography presented is phenomenal.
2. The pacing can be a bit sluggish.
3. There are a few changes made to the source material, such as Usnavi not finding out Abuela Claudia won the $96,000 until near the end, where in the musical, Claudia tells him right before she dies.

## Videos

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