IN THE HEIGHTS, US, 2021 (Musical). Starring Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smits, Gregory Diaz IV, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marc Anthony. Directed by Jon Chu. 143 minutes. Rated PG (Mild coarse language and sex themes)
The Heights? Washington Heights – the northern part of New York’s Manhattan where the island narrows between the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the east. For the past decades it has been a centre for migrants from Caribbean countries. And here, these cultures are being celebrated.
In the Heights was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who grew up in Washington Heights; his name to be reckoned with for the American musical in the 21st-century. Miranda has been immortalised with his Broadway hit Hamilton. In fact, In the Heights was written before Hamilton but now is getting the big screen treatment. It is directed by Jon Chu who directed a number of dance films, such as Step Up, but achieved great popularity with Crazy Rich Asians.
A prominent reviewer treated In the Heights with more than a touch of disdain, condemning it as “sanitised”. The reviewer was referring to the social problems in the area, especially drugs and violence, killings – and, in 1989, the New York Times did state that Washington Heights was the crack capital of the world. It is true that these issues are not to the fore here. Rather, this story intends to be a celebration – of the Latino cultures, the memories of homelands, the transition to the US, and a new home in the US. It has the touch of the fairytale – and, that is certainly true of the end of the film and its resolution with a lottery ticket.
There is singing and dancing in the street. On a personal note, this reviewer did spend a year living in Washington Heights, 1989, and resonated with the story and the characters, the filming on the streets of Washington Heights, the precise situation of Usnavi’s store on the corner of Audubon Avenue and 1/75 Street. But, this reviewer has to confess that he never saw any dancing in the streets although there was often a festive atmosphere, celebrating the many patrons under the title of the Virgin Mary and the countries of origin.
The central character is a young man, Usnavi (Ramos) who tells stories about his growing up in the Dominican Republic. Usnavi works a stall with the young Sonny (Diaz), who is attracted to Vanessa (Barrera), who works in the local beauty shop (which is transferring to the Bronx). His good friend Benny (Hawkins) works for Kevin (Smits) who runs a local taxi service. Benny is in love with Kevin’s daughter, Nina (Grace) who has been sent away by her father to improve her studies at Stanford, though she does not want to study there, feeling out of place, and longing to return home. And, overall, there is the presiding spirit of the genial grandmother.
So, lots of verve, dancing in the streets, even on the side of an apartment block! But, compared with, say, West Side Story, this one is comparatively low key, a local celebration inviting us all to share. And, again, a commentator has referred to it as a love letter to the cultures of Washington Heights.
Warner Bros
Released 24 June
Peter Malone MSC is an associate Jesuit Media
Image: ANTHONY RAMOS as Usnavi and MELISSA BARRERA as Vanessa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ In the Heights, a Warner Bros. Pictures release.