By Sarah Fertsch
I have always been a fan of “Hamilton,” so when I first listened to “In the Heights,” I was musically in love. I’ve memorized the lyrics to most of the songs three years ago, so when I watched the movie with my mom, I was singing along loud and proud.
For those of you that don’t know, “In the Heights” follows the community of Washington Heights during the summer heat. The story is full of romance, family, and community pride. Usnavy, the main character, owns the local bodega but plans to sell it and move to the Dominican Republic, his homeland. Meanwhile, Nina comes home from college and plans to drop out (feeling like she doesn’t belong), but begins a relationship with Benny, a boy from the Heights who works for her father’s business. Usnavi becomes romantic with Vanessa, an up-and-coming fashion designer who plans on moving out of the neighborhood. In the end, after much support from her friends and family, Nina returns to college. Usnavy chooses not to move to the Dominican Republic and starts a family with Vanessa, who also stays in the neighborhood. Everyone has a happy ending, and you will leave the theater smiling.
Every movie has lessons for viewers, so here’s my take on lessons learned from the movie-musical “In the Heights:”
1. Community Matters
The center of the movie is Washington Heights, which the entire opening theme song centers on. It mentions little details and flaws of the neighborhood (“got some little punk I have to chase away,” “I’ve never been north of 96th street,” “times are tough in this bodega”), but despite poverty and intense heat, the people are devoted to each other. They encourage each other to come over for dinner or go dancing or see the fireworks. Various locations serve as places of gathering – Daniella’s salon, the fire escape, the street (with the fire hydrant busted open), and Usnavy’s store. Leaving the community, or selling off your business, is considered a common desire but capital sin. Life is good when you’re together.
2. Family is More Than Blood
The major tragedy of the musical is the death of Abuela. “That’s my Abuela, she is not really my abuela but she practically raised me. This corner is her escuela now.” Abuela cooks for Nina when she comes home from college, and gives her lottery winnings away to her adopted children. Usnavy serves as a father figure for Sunny, his cousin. He keeps Sunny out of trouble and offers advice as they both work the corner store. Benny, an outsider in the community, is quickly welcomed into the fold (eating dinners together, being gossiped about at Daniella’s salon). The characters love each other, and their goals are interdependent on each other. Usnavy, who plans on leaving for the DR, chooses to stay for Sunny, the memory of Abuela, and to save their neighborhood from gentrification. Family is about love, not necessarily genetics. You can have more than one family, and life should center around loved ones.
3. Money is Important,
But Not Everything
Poverty greatly affects the characters of this musical, and motivates them into action. Community members play the lottery (hoping desperately to win), sell their business to keep their daughter in college, change the local latte recipe, and their recreation outside of work. When Abuela gives her lottery winnings to Usnavy, he immediately sells off the store and prepares for his move to the DR. When he changes his mind, he cleans up his store and invests the winnings into the community (paying for Sunny to attend college). Vanessa desperately wants to move out of the neighborhood, but she doesn’t pass a credit check for other apartments, and she cannot find a cosigner (until Usnavy steps up for her).
The real lesson from “In the Heights” boils down to this: who you are and what you do matters. You have an effect on everyone around you. When Nina feels unable to handle the pressure of college, the neighborhood is devastated for her and encourages her to go back and fight to belong. When Mr. Rosario closes his taxi business, the community feels defeated, and when Abuela dies, the entire block mourns for her. No matter how alone you feel, there is always somewhere you fit. Your home may have some flaws, but home will always welcome you with open arms. “When you’re home, the street is a little kinder. When you’re home, the day seems clearer now that you are near. Maybe it’s just me.”
