Movie Guide: MI FAMILIA

This movie chronicles three generations of a Mexican American family living in East Los Angeles. Several themes in the film include the importance of the family unit and the cultural differences of Hispanic families, deportation of Mexican immigrants during the Great Depression, discrimination against Mexican workers,and the Pachuco gangster movement of the 50's. My students really enjoyed this film and it goes well with any unit on the family or as a mini lesson. The movie carries an R rating for strong language and one very brief partial nudity scene which could be easily edited out. There are 32 chronological questions in the movie guide. Students will enjoy identifying the cast of characters as there are many familiar faces in this film. This film is also suitable for ESL students of Hispanic origin as the story relates well to challenges faced by previous generations of Hispanic immigrants.