Rano Rodriguez / Joe Character Analysis in Always Running

Rano is Luis Rodriguez’s older brother, and an important influence on Luis’s earlier life. When Luis’s family moves to Los Angeles, Rano quickly becomes violent and unpredictable. He has trouble adjusting to his classes, in which he’s mocked for knowing little English. But as Rano grows older, he undergoes a startling transformation. He begins to fit in at school, exceling at sports, music, and school. At this point, Rano begins to go by the name Joe. He becomes, as Luis puts it, “the Mexican exception,” i.e., a Latino immigrant who fits in at an American public high school. However, Rano grows apart from his brother, and by the time Luis enters high school the two of them aren’t particularly close. Nevertheless, Rano is an important figure for Luis: he introduces Luis to music and boxing and more generally he represents the young man Luis could be if he applied himself.

Rano Rodriguez / Joe Character Timeline in Always Running

The timeline below shows where the character Rano Rodriguez / Joe appears in Always Running. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Luis remembers fighting with his older brother Rano. Once, when Luis was nine years old, he was sitting in the backseat fighting with... (full context)

Growing up in Los Angeles, Luis plays with Rano, his brother. Rano plays the part of Tarzan while Luis plays a monkey—meaning that Luis... (full context)

One day, Rano and Luis go to the grocery store to buy food for their mother. While they’re... (full context)

In Reseda, Rano becomes the toughest kid in school, meaning that bullies no longer pick on him or... (full context)

Politics, Resistance, and Activism Theme Icon

...with Seni, who lives with her husband and two daughters. Because the house is crowded, Rano and Luis spend most of their time outside. (full context)

One night, Luis and Rano come home to find the house surrounded by police. It turns out that Seni had... (full context)

Around this time, Luis and Rano drift farther apart. One day, two bullies who are upset that Rano has beaten them... (full context)

...Pancho moves in. In his late teens, Pancho is very cool. He introduces Luis and Rano to soul music and weightlifting. (full context)

...the age of nine, Luis’s parents tell him that he needs to start earning money. Rano is working as a newspaper boy, and when Luis turns twelve, he begins doing the... (full context)

One afternoon, when Luis is fourteen, Joe accuses him of stealing his records. Luis tells Joe, “Fuck you,” and Joe attacks Luis... (full context)

...they get a chance, as revenge for Luis’s involvement in the firebombing. Later that night, Joe gets a call from Gloria, begging him to pick her up immediately. Joe drives to... (full context)

...State, and she accepts. At this time, Luis is dating multiple women (meanwhile, his brother Joe has married and had a child, Louie, named after Luis). (full context)