Nina’s storyline is a significant part of In the Heights, but here’s why her mom wasn’t included in the film adaptation of the musical. Portrayed by actress Leslie Grace, Nina Rosario is a first-generation college student and one of the few to “make it out” of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. However, the isolation and microaggressions she experienced during her first year at Stanford left her to question whether she should return. Though Nina’s father, Kevin (Jimmy Smits), was featured in the movie, Camila Rosario was cut from the script.

In the Heights tells the story of a close community of neighbors – including the Rosarios – who live in Washington Heights. Narrated by charming bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), the film highlights the joys and setbacks of life in a vibrant urban community where gentrification looms closer and opportunities don’t come easily. Usnavi’s circle includes Benny (Corey Hawkins), Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), “Abuela” Claudia (Olga Merediz), and several other neighborhood residents who each grapple with their community ties and the desire to chase their dreams. Created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Jon M. Chu, In the Heights is out now in theaters and on HBO Max after pandemic-related delays pushed back its release.

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Although In the Heights explored Nina’s childhood and college journey in an in-depth way, her mom was missing from the narrative, and this happened because of some other characters’ journeys. In the original In the Heights Broadway musical, Camila Rosario helps Kevin run his cab company. She even has her own musical number, “Enough,” which she sings to help diffuse the argument between Nina and Kevin when Nina reveals her initial decision to drop out of Stanford. But for the movie, producer and screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes decided to take Camila out of the script to help with Usnavi and Nina’s parallel journeys.

Removing Nina’s mom from the plot created a stronger contrast between her daughter’s narrative and Usnavi’s narrative. “I made the decision to cut Nina’s mom, not because I don’t like the character, but we really wanted to push the idea of Usnavi and Nina as they grew up together…and they’re taking different paths,” Hudes said (via Variety). “Her path is to leave the community, and his path is to stay in the community. What does that mean to them and the community?” While several In the Heights characters had steadfast dreams, Usnavi and Nina ended up altering some of their decisions regarding their own dreams during the course of the movie.

Without Nina’s mom as an additional character, Nina’s story goes also deeper, and the stakes involving her college decision become higher. Kevin raising Nina as a single parent means that the financial burden of putting his child through college is inevitably greater. According to Hudes, the tension that leads to the fight between Nina and Kevin becomes “clearer and more distilled” without Camila as a part of the story. They both feel the significance of what Nina’s college education means for their family and for the community. Ultimately, Nina decides to give it a second chance because she sees herself capable of being part of a cause that’s greater than herself. Her decision in the musical was primarily influenced by Abuela Claudia, but for the In the Heights movie, Nina could also take that step in memory of her mom.

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Kayleigh Fongers
(59 Articles Published)

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Kayleigh Fongers is a features writer for Screen Rant, covering movies and TV shows. She’s a communications coordinator for a nonprofit organization by day and a freelance writer by night. In addition to Screen Rant, Kayleigh has contributed to Religion News Service, The Banner, and Grand Rapids Magazine. She holds a BA in Writing from Calvin University and also writes for an alumni blog. When she’s not behind a screen, she’s probably listening to Harry Styles, obsessing over a sunset on Lake Michigan, or buying more books than she’ll ever read.

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