In the Heights is a 2021 American musical drama film directed by Jon M. Chu. It stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits. The film is based on the 2005 Broadway musical of the same name created by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the latter of which also created the musical Hamilton.
The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside of the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is the likable, magnetic bodega owner who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.
Victims[]
Before the Film[]
- Usnavi's Father - Died off-screen from unknown causes alongside his mother, mentioned and photos shown.
- Usnavi's Mother - Died off-screen from unknown causes alongside his father, mentioned.
- Camila Rosario - Died off-screen from unknown causes, mentioned.
- Claudia's Mother - Died off-screen from unknown causes, mentioned.
- Total - 4
During the Film[]
- Abuela Claudia - Heart gave out due to stress, heat, and never taking her medicine.
- Total - 1
Deaths[]
- Total - 5
- 4 Women
- 1 Man
Trivia[]
- The film was supposed to be released in 2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It was originally set to be adapted all the way back in 2008, with Universal Pictures at the helm and Kenny Ortega directing, but that plan fell through March 2011. The final version started production with Warner Bros in 2016.
- The very first song in the film, "In the Heights", foreshadows some other songs and major plot points.
- Usnavi mentions John Wick in an early scene, shortly after the first song.
- There's a few film references at the start of the song "96,000", which are accompanied by animated graphics:
- Benny and Usnavi mention Frodo from The Lord of the Rings.
- Usnavi calls Benny "Pinocchio".
- Graffiti Pete references Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Although it's not a film reference, professional golfer Tiger Woods is also mentioned in the same scene.
- Also during the song "96,000", a woman says the word "Alabanza" and another woman says the phrase "No Me Diga" shortly after, both of which are other songs in the film, the former of which plays much later and the latter two songs before.
- Although she does appear in the original stage musical, Camila Rosario, Nina's mother, was cut from the film's script, and the musical number "Enough" was therefore cut as well. According to Hudes, who was a writer for both the original musical and the film, Camila was removed to further emphasize the contrast between Usnavi and Nina's parallel paths in life.
- When Kevin Rosario is on the phone with Stanford's financial office, the hold music is a muzak version of "You'll Be Back", King George III's song from the musical Hamilton.
- The film has many cameos:
- Dominican-American comedian The Kid Mero voices the radio host right at the start of the film.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda himself, who played Usnavi in the original musical, plays the unnamed Piragua Guy.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda's parents, Luis Miranda and Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda, appear getting out of a car during the song "Breathe".
- American actress Ariana Greenblatt plays young Nina during the songs "Breathe" and "When You're Home".
- Late actress Doreen Montalvo, who performed in the Broadway musical, appears during the song "Breathe" as well. Also, see the next point for more.
- Drag performer Valentina, a former competitor in RuPaul's Drag Race, plays the client in sunglasses in Daniela's salon.
- Chris Jackson, who played Benny in the original stage musical, plays the Piragua Guy's rival, "Mister Softee", in the film.
- American singer Marc Anthony plays Sonny's father in only one scene, though he also lends his voice to the song "Home All Summer" at the end of the film's official soundtrack.
- Maria Hinojosa, host of NPR's Latino USA, gives a speech at the DREAMers rally.
- Seth Stewart and Javier Muñoz, more performers from the Broadway musical, had small unnamed roles in the film.
- Even more Broadway performers from the original musical have background vocals in the film, those being Andréa Burns, Janet Dacal, Mandy Gonzalez, Joshua Henry, Krysta Rodriguez, and Jon Rua.
- Broadway actor Patrick Page, who is known for playing Hades in the musical Hadestown, appears as Pike Phillips, the laundromat owner.
- The film is dedicated to late actress Doreen Montalvo, who died in 2020, a year before its release. Her short physical appearance in the film is mentioned in the previous point, but she is also the singer on the scratched record in Claudia's apartment later in the film. If the lyrics are translated to English, they actually foreshadow Claudia's death: "If you go away from me/You'll go on in my memories forever", with the word "forever" being repeated. She also reprises her Broadway role as the Bolero singer performing "Siempre" ("Finale") at the end of the film.