San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
COMING OF AGE IN ‘15: A QUINCEAÑERA STORY’
With much of the arts moving to online and streaming platforms, here’s a look at a weekly standout:
My pick: “15: A Quinceañera Story” on HBO Max
Why: I never had a quinceañera, but growing up in Chula Vista and Baja, I went to lots of them. Some were in fancy Tijuana hotels, others in backyards, but all of them memorable and joyous celebrations.
Quinceañeras — or girls’ 15th birthday parties — are typically celebrated by Latin families. They’re a blend of religious event, rite of passage and social gathering, and they can take months, sometimes years, to plan. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, quinceañera celebrations have had to be canceled or altered.
For anyone missing that quinceañera energy and emotion, though, check out the documentary series “15: A Quinceañera Story” on HBO Max. Each episode centers on one soon-to-be 15year-old getting ready for her party. In the midst of frivolously finding dresses or meeting with caterers, the subjects are also dealing with more serious issues like sexual identity and immigration.
The first episode is about Zoey, a transgender teen who plans her upcoming celebration with the help of her “transmadrinas” (godmothers), older transgender women who were never able to have their own parties. Another episode finds Rosi, an American teen from Florida, having to move her celebration to Cuba because her grandfather can’t get a visa to the United States.
The episodes are engrossing and give you a look into the lives of teens who aren’t otherwise given a voice or a spotlight. Even though they are serious and often heartbreaking, each 30-minute episode ends in a joyous and meaningful celebration.
Find it: There are only four episodes of “15: A Quinceañera Story” and they are streaming on HBO Max.