For our review of the film, click here.

The anticipated release of WB’s In the Heights is set to release this week, but the long-lasting impact of the film will affect many BIPOC, especially those from the Latinx community, for a lifetime.

Based on the Tony-Award-winning musical of the same name, In the Heights tells the story of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a charismatic bodega owner in Washington Heights who saves every penny from his daily grind as he has a sueñito — aka little dream — of getting out of the barrio and living in the Dominican Republic, where his family was from. The community around him also have dreams of their own – his cousin Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) wants to go to college; “Abuela” Claudia (Olga Merediz) wants to take care of the community; the ladies of the beauty shop — Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega), Carla (Stephanie Beatriz), and Cuca (Dascha Polanco) – all want to be rich and successful; taxi company owner Kevin Rosario (Jimmy Smits) wants to be able to help his daughter Nina (Leslie Grace) who is studying at Stanford; Usnavi’s best friend Benny (Corey Hawkins) wants to go to business school; Usnavi’s crush Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), an aspiring fashion designer who wants to move to Manhattan; and, Piraguero the Piragua Guy (Lin-Manuel Miranda) who just wants to beat his frozen treat competitor, Mister Softee (Christopher Jackson).

We got to chat with the director Jon M. Chu and several of the cast about the film, their dreams, and what In the Heights and being Latinx means to them and the community.

Check it out below:

And don’t forget Keith got to speak with Lin himself, as well!

In the Heights premieres this Thursday in theaters and on HBO Max. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!