It’s Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents’ home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brother’s safe return from combat overseas.
Acting
Elizabeth Peña and Alfred Molina weaponize decades of chemistry.
Writing
Dialogue that switches English/Spanish mid-sentence, no subtitles needed.
Production
Humbolt Park Chicago as character—specific, lived-in, un-Hollywood.
Director
Alfredo De Villa
Alfred Molina
Edy Rodriguez
Elizabeth Peña
Anna Rodriguez
Freddy Rodríguez
Jesse Rodriguez
Luis Guzmán
Johnny
Jay Hernandez
Ozzy
John Leguizamo
Mauricio Rodriguez
Debra Messing
Sarah Rodriguez
Vanessa Ferlito
Roxanna Rodriguez
Melonie Díaz
Marissa
Ramses Jimenez
Fernando
Manny Perez
Alexis
Claudia Michelle Wallace
Tina
Cheryl Hamada
Dr. Susan Lee
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
One of the few studio Christmas films centered on a Puerto Rican family—released the same year as Nothing Like the Holidays, the industry made four films about white people learning to believe in Santa.
Elizabeth Peña's 'I have a boyfriend' monologue was largely improvised after De Villa kept the cameras rolling past cut.
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