Almost a Woman (2001)
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53% of users liked it
(83 ratings)
A girl poised on the brink of adolescence finds herself shouldering a whole new set of responsibilities in this made-for-TV drama based on the autobiographical book by Esmeralda Santiago. In 1961, Mami Santiago (Wanda De Jesus) decides to leave her life in a Puerto Rican farming community behind and… More A girl poised on the brink of adolescence finds herself shouldering a whole new set of responsibilities in this made-for-TV drama based on the autobiographical book by Esmeralda Santiago. In 1961, Mami Santiago (Wanda De Jesus) decides to leave her life in a Puerto Rican farming community behind and move herself and her six children to New York City in search of a better life -- and better medical care for her ailing son. Mami's oldest daughter, Esmerelda (Ana Maria Lagasca) -- Negi for short -- not only has trouble adapting to her new environment, but doesn't quite fit in at her new school, where she's lumped in with other Spanish speaking students with whom she shares no common culture. Negi's burden is intensified by the fact her mother and siblings are counting on her to learn English and serve as the family's interpreter. One of Negi's teachers senses her creative gifts and arranges for her to audition for the Performing Arts School in Manhattan, but as Negi struggles to learn a monologue in a new language she has yet to master, she isn't sure if she has what it takes to make the grade. Esmeralda Santiago penned the screenplay for Almost A Woman from her own memoir; the film was first broadcast as part of the award-winning PBS anthology series Masterpiece Theater. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Betty Kaplan
- Genres
- Drama, Television
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 26, 2006 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
A historically vivid but dramatically stunted coming-of-age drama.
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Cast
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Wanda De Jesus
as Mami Santiago
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Miriam Colon
as Tata
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Ana Maria Lagasca
as Esmeralda "Negi" Santiago
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Cliff De Young
as Mr. Burnett
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Francesco Quinn
as Don Carlos
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Luis Garcia
as Francisco Cortez
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Ismael 'East' Carlo
as Don Julio
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Alexis Cruz
as Nestor
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Angelo Pagan
as Papi
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George Wyner
as Dr. Fishbeck
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Christine Healy
as Mrs. Parsons
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Diane Salinger
as Mrs. Moore
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Anne De Salvo
as Miss Narayan
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Evangelina Sosa Martinez
as Delsa Santiago
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Stacy Gallardo
as Norma Santiago
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Gabriel A. Flores
as Hector Santiago
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Yanniva Mendoza
as Alicia Santiago
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Marisabel Garcia
as Edna Santiago
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Austin Noah Marques
as Raymond Santiago
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Carmen Moreno
as Yolanda
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Robin Lee
as Miss Brown
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Peter Jason
as Mr. Fuller
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Justine Williams
as Office Social Worker
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Dawn Didawick
as Field Social Worker
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Sara Rivas
as Laura
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Jacob Hobbs
as Harvey
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Patrice Fisher
as Gang Girl
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Johanna Denis
as Gang Girl
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Amy Correa
as Gang Girl
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Achilles Aiken
as Older Raymond
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Alicia Kaplan
as Dr. Fishbeck's Nurse
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Sarah Zinsser
as Librarian
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Bob Prest
as Jacob
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Son Y Clave
as Salsa Band
