Film Screening

Mi Vida Loca (“My Crazy Life”) at the Palace Theatre

Saturday, June 15, 2024

8 p.m.

Experience this 30th anniversary screening of Allison Anders’ powerful film about “homegirls” surviving gang life and relationships in Echo Park.
Sold Out

Mi Vida Loca (1994)

**Allison Anders’ personal 35 mm print**

Set in Echo Park, MI VIDA LOCA film consists of several anecdotes about Latina teenagers who are “homegirls,” or girlfriends to gang members. The first story is about “Sad Girl” and “Mousie” whose friendship is tested when they both become pregnant by “Ernesto.”

The brief second story is about Ernesto training the quasi-comic character “Whisper” to become a drug dealer. The third story is about “Giggles,” a symbol of female empowerment, who leaves prison after serving time for her now-deceased boyfriend and is now determined to leave the gang life behind for something better.

The last story is a tender love story about Sad Girl’s sister “La Blue Eyes” who falls for a man in prison.

Director Allison Anders’ film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993 and was released to acclaim in 1994, with critics applauding its realism. Anders worked with non-actors and Echo Park community members to create this realistic, difficult story about sisterhood and sacrifice, and it has since become a cult classic.

MI VIDA LOCA was nominated to the National Film Registry in 2023.

Note: This film has an R rating and includes scenes of graphic violence.

 

 

Mi Vida Loca (1994)
Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m.

Palace Theatre
R Rating
Color/35mm
92 mins.


SPECIAL GUEST
Mariana De Silva, Founder of El Cine, Allison Anders, director and screenwriter of Mi Vida Loca, and Danny Trejo, actor and producer and members of the cast to celebrate 30th anniversary


Join the low rider scene to see vintage low riders and classic cars cruising Broadway ahead of the film. Low riders from the film MI VIDA LOCA courtesy of Tattoo Louie and Cruising Back 2 Route 66


Stay in your seats after the screening for a FREE Q&A about the historic Palace Theatre.


The films in this series are presented as originally created during a different time period and may contain negative attitudes, language, and depictions of people and/or cultures. The Los Angeles Conservancy does not condone these representations. 

Trailer, "Mi Vida Loca" | Photo Courtesy: Erik Heinila / HBO

This year, MI VIDA LOCA celebrates 30 years since its release in the summer of 1994. | ©HBO
Palace Theatre
The Palace opened in 1911, making it one of the oldest theatres in Los Angeles. | Photo by Adrian Scott Fine/Los Angeles Conservancy
Allison Anders
Allison Anders by Mark Mainz | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Enjoy Mi Vida Loca on the big screen—the way it was meant to be seen! | Photo by Gary Leonard.
Starring Angel Aviles, Seidy Lopez, Nelida Lopez, Jacob Vargas, and Marlo Marron in Mi Vida Loca. | Photo Courtesy: Erik Heinila / HBO
Allison Anders and Rodrigo Garcia Panavision
Allison Anders and Rodrigo Garcia Panavision | Courtesy of Allison Anders
La Blue Eyes in Mi Vida Loca.
La Blue Eyes in Mi Vida Loca. | Courtesy of Allison Anders
MVL EP boys funeral
Echo Park boy's funeral in Mi Vida Loca. | Courtesy of Allison Anders
MVL Ernesto and Suavecito
Ernesto posing in front of the Suavecito car in Mi Vida Loca. | Courtesy of Allison Anders
MVL EP homegirls
Behind the scenes, Echo Park homegirls in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Sad Girl and Mousie watching kids play.
Sad Girl and Mousie watching kids play in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Salma Hayek on set Gata
Salma Hayek (Gata) on set of Mi Vida Loca. | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Seidy Angel Christia Locas
Seidy Angel Christia Locas | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Sad Girl Locos El Batey night
Sad Girl, Locos El Batey night | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Danny Trejo at Echo Park Lake for Mi Vida Loca
Danny Trejo at Echo Park Lake for Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
El Duran and Salma Hayek in Mi Vida Loca
El Duran and Salma Hayek in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
A boys meeting in Mi Vida Loca
A boys meeting in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Danny Trejo playing Frank at Echo Park Lake for Mi Vida Loca filming. | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Boys meeting during the Mi Vida Loca
Boys meeting during the Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
La Blue Eyes and El Duran in Mi Vida Loca
La Blue Eyes and El Duran in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Angelo in Mi Vida Loca
Angelo in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
The girl group in Mi Vida Loca
The girl group in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
The girls in the funeral scene of Mi Vida Loca
The girls in the funeral scene of Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
Funeral Scene in Mi Vida Loca
Funeral Scene in Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders
LOCAS & BABY DOLL in the movie Mi Vida Loca
LOCAS & BABY DOLL in the movie Mi Vida Loca | Courtesy of Allison Anders

Details & Getting There

Key Information

LOCATION: The Palace Theatre is located at 630 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014 (Downtown L.A.)

FREE Q&A SESSION: Following the screening, there will be a free Q&A session about the Palace Theatre. Stay in your seat to learn more.

ACCESSIBILITY: The Palace Theatre has limited wheelchair accessibility. Restrooms are located either up or down a flight of stairs. A small historic elevator that requires assistance is available for those needing to access restrooms while avoiding stairs. No assisted listening devices are available.

Important Policies

TICKETS & THEATRE POLICIES: Tickets are general seating unless you are a sponsor or Cornerstone member at the Granite level or above. Please arrive early to get the best seat selection.

L.A. Conservancy members will receive priority entry into the theatresDoors open one hour before showtime for members and forty-five (45) minutes before showtime for the general public. Not a member yet? Join today for only $40 a year to ensure you get priority entry.

REFUNDS/EXCHANGES: No refunds or exchanges. If you cannot attend the screening, we will gratefully accept your purchase as a tax-deductible donation if you notify us at (213) 623-2489.

COVID-19: The L.A. Conservancy highly recommends but does not require wearing a face mask or vaccination against COVID-19.

For additional details, see below.

All participants in the Los Angeles Conservancy-sponsored Walking Tours knowingly and freely accept and assume all risks, both known and unknownincluding contracting and/or transmitting COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases, and AGREE TO RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, NOT SUE, AND HOLD HARMLESS the Los Angeles Conservancy, its principals, officers, employees, volunteers, sponsors, agents and other participants from any and all claims, damages (including medical expenses and attorneys’ fees), injuries and expenses arising out of, or resulting from your voluntary attendance/participation in Walking Tours, including contracting and/or transmitting COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases and any and all other injury, illness, disability, death, or loss or damage to person or property. All participants expressly waive the benefits of California Civil Code 1542, which provides that: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.

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Major funding for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s educational programs is provided by the LaFetra Foundation and the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation.