La Mission (2009)
Growing up in the Mission district of San Francisco, Che Rivera has always had to be tough to survive. He's a powerful man respected throughout the Mission barrio for his masculinity and his strength, as well as for his hobby building beautiful lowrider cars. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes, whom he has raised on his own after the death of his wife. Che's path to redemption is tested, however, when he discovers Jes is gay. To survive his neighborhood, Che has always lived with his fists. To survive as a complete man, he'll have to embrace a side of himself he's never shown.
Watch Trailer
Free Trial Channels
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Load of rubbish!!
Instant Favorite.
Best movie ever!
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
This underrated movie provides an insider's view of the colorful San Francisco's neighborhood known as the "Mission" - a predominantly Latino enclave in San Francisco. Inspired by real characters, it does not present the usual clichés of the ethnic minority drama by avoiding the romanticizing of this environment; it skews the typical down home ethnic wisdom favored by liberal Hollywood and does not become another histrionic sordid ghetto thriller/soap opera.Supported by an excellent cast, Benjamin Bratt gives an astonishing performance as an intolerant bus driver, a single father who cannot accept his adolescent only son's homosexuality despite the love and pride he feels for him. The violent machismo that have shaped his life is perpetuated by the next generation of disenfranchised youth who prey La Mission.The neighborhood is presented as an insular world almost anachronistic in 21st century San Francisco. Working class middle age men turn old cars into souped-up low-riding monsters and make fun of soy lattes and recycling, feathered Aztec dancers fill the streets with color and sound as neighbors try to maintain a sense of heritage with their indigenous past, families place flowers and pray where their children have been slain.The movie transcends its family drama genre allowing the story to evolve at its own pace with a feeling of authenticity and honesty prevailing in every scene. Without providing easy solutions, it centers on a character whose contradictions reflect the world he inhabits. Highly recommended.
"La Mission" is a project of love about the barrio neighborhood the Bratt brothers grew up in. Writer/Director Peter Bratt takes time and care to set up a strong sense of cultural pride with Aztec dancers, Catholic rituals, "slow and low" cruising in shiny low riders through the family oriented Mission District of San Francisco.Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) an ex-con and recovering alcoholic, has worked hard to earn the respect of his community by going straight and being a good father to his college bound son (Jeremy Ray Valdez.) Benjamin Bratt portrays Che as the embodiment of Mexican machismo. The director presents him as a sympathetic character who was brought up to use his fists to survive on the hard streets. Che finds strength for his quest for redemption in his culture and religion. But when he discovers that his beloved son is gay, that homophobic culture drives his negative response. Enhancing the theme is a multi-racial relationship with Che's black, culturally diverse, social-worker neighbor Lena (Erika Alexander.) Lena sees through Che's violent, macho exterior. Experience has taught her that this kind of man is incapable of changing, but she can't help but be moved by the wounded boy inside. There is an odd visual metaphor which I believe is meant to show the contrast between past and present Chicano culture: colorful Aztec dancers perform at the shine of a murdered teen with a sign, "No more violence." I found it odd because the Aztec's practiced human sacrifice. Whether intentional or not, the Aztec dancers are a good metaphor for the theme: We need to keep what is healthy from our culture or religion and let go of what is destructive. "La Mission" isn't perfect. A few scenes were just left hanging - especially in the romantic subplot. I didn't feel the chemistry between Che and Lena. But Benjamin Bratt delivers one of his strongest performances. The brothers have given us an authentic, loving depiction of the culture in the Mission barrio with an important theme for our times. Movie Blessings! Jana Segal,Reel Inspiration
Actually, Benjamin Bratt said, "My brother Peter throws a lot into this movie." I went to a sold out screening on May 11, 2010, at the Pasadena Playhouse. This was a special screening as not only was Benjamin there; there was co-star Jeremy Ray Valdez and Laureen Selman, President of Reel Green Media, and who has the unusual screen credit as Environmental Consultant.Though Bratt is a familiar face with many credits, such as a regular on LAW & ORDER and co-star in one of Sandra Bollack's biggest hits, "MISS CONGENIALITY", he really wanted to make a film that portrays life where he grew up in, the Mission District in San Francisco. Locals pronounce La Mission as Spanish, La Mis-see-own. But he got nothing but "no's" from the top brass. They told him that there was no audience for this kind of story.But he had faith in his brother's story so they became producers with help from AMC Independent. Knowing the effects of movie making does to the environment, Selman came on board to ensure that waste was cut down. Cast and crew had to refill their water bottles or use metal containers. Cars ran on vegetable oil and ways for minimal use of paper work was investigated.I'll only give the setup of this movie as I do encourage seeing this movie. Che (Benjamin Bratt) is an ace mechanic who operates from his own garage. He often has his friends over while he works and he visits him regularly as well, playing dominoes and shooting the breeze. Most are Chicanos, like himself, though some English speaking African Americans are part of the group.Though beer and hard liquor is around him, he does not drink at all. In fact, one of his amigos is his AA sponsor. He's done time in prison and divorced from his wife. He has his son Jessie (Jeremy Ray Valdez) living with him. Jeremy is in his last year of high school and studying to be a college student.Just moved in on the second floor on top of his garage is a very spiritually minded African American, Lena (Ericka Alexander) who does not get along at Che at first.However, things get all turned around when he finds photographic evidence that his son Jesse is gay. He beats his son and throws him out of his apartment.Not a typical gang banger story at all and as in real life, everything does not resolve into one neat package. However, this is a good glimpse of of seeing realities in different perceptions and a story of transformation. Definitely not for kids but a very good one for those who like to keep an open mind.
Caught this flick with a choice of almost any seat. Weird because the theater is known for showing real life, low budget, "art" and eclectic films so I expected it to be well attended at the 2:10 showing. Someone judged that the religious elements in the movie were a distraction. I don't get the same read. They seemed to fit in culturally quite well. In fact I judge there was an intent to show a paradox between passion for worship / faith reverence and passionate violence. The central theme is the breakdown between single parent father and gay son. It left room for some play around other compelling life issues. If you are shy about the subject of gay men, go see Oceans. Two hours is too long for this movie (requisite love scene was useless), but the length did not detract from the story. The ending ... go see the movie.