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Product Description ------------------- Set in the colorful, seedy streets of the San Francisco district that bears it's name, La Mission is a haunting story of healing and transformation: The healing of a broken man, of a her's relationship with his son, and of a neighborhood struggling to break the chains of violence. .com ---- For this affecting labor of love, Peter Bratt focuses on a Latino widower with rigid views on masculinity. A bus driver covered in tattoos, Che Rivera (the filmmaker's brother, Benjamin Bratt) lives in San Francisco's Mission District with his son, Jes (Jeremy Ray Valdez). A recovering alcoholic who customizes low-riders on the side, Che takes pride in the high school senior's academic achievements, but he doesn't take kindly to sexuals--and has no clue about Jes's secret life until he finds the photographic evidence. As expected, he gets upset, but Jes's insulting defense only makes matters worse and leads Che to kick him out. While Jes stays with relatives until things cool down, Che tries to resist the bottle, but word travels fast in a close-knit community, and the personal becomes political when bullies hassle the Riveras, leaving Che to consider revenge. Lena (the radiant Erika Alexander), a concerned neighbor who works at a women's shelter, tries to help her and son mend fences, but there's only so much she can do. She's also interested in Che, and he in her, but their personalities present a more significant obstacle than race or culture. In less adept hands, La Mission could've become a preachy soap opera, but despite a few creaky plot mechanics, Bratt's attention to detail ensures that his characters register more as sympathetic individuals than stereotypes. He's aided in his efforts by strong performances, flavorful old-school funk, and camera work that celebrates the beauty of a rapidly gentrifying region. --Kathleen C. Fennessy P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); Review ------ Anchored by Benjamin Bratt's charismatic performance, the film offers a compelling insider's view of a culture foreign to most moviegoers - --The Hollywood Reporter The humanity contained in this film reaches beyond solely Latino audiences and interests - --BoxOffice.com Solid drama with nice streaks of humor, warmth and local color - --Variety See more ( javascript:void(0) )