East Side Story

By: Lawrence Ferber
In-House Review - Jul 31 2006

In East Los Angeles, handsome young Diego works at his family's restaurant while secretly having an affair with a hunky but super-closeted real estate agent, Pedro. For the largely Latino neighborhood, the landscape is literally changing as white folks move in, including gay couple Wesley and Jonathan. Diego, increasingly frustrated with his hush-hush situation with Pedro (who, making matters worse, romantically pursues a female relative of Diego's!), falls for Wesley. But racist and homophobic friends, relatives and, in Wesley's case, a pissy ex-boyfriend guarantee this affair will be no picnic. Almost a companion piece to Quinceañera, director Carlos Portugal's East Side Story employs a perfect blend of humor, drama and soap opera-worthy plot twists in telling this very timely tale of a neighborhood -- and some of its residents' lives -- in flux. (English and Spanish with English subtitles)

By: Amos Lassen

"East Side Story"
A Little Bit of Everything
Amos Lassen
Culture clashes, sexuality, gentrification, and politics are the issues handled in Carlos Portugal's new movie "East Side Story". Add a heterosexual twist in a movie set in East Los Angeles and you have a good time.
When gay Hispanics start moving into a neighborhood that has been a traditionally Mexican enclave, you have a movie screenplay. When the new neighbors start renovating houses and adopting children from abroad, some of the neighborhood residents begin to feel challenged.
The cast is exceptional as each represents a different aspect of society and does so without appearing to be a cliché. Steve Callahan as Wesley is the center of the film. Having moved into the neighborhood, he wants to be part of it and to learn about the culture of the people. His boyfriend, Jonathon (Cory Schneider) is very funny as the jealous one who sees the house as an investment. He also is scared of his neighbors and does not want to stay in the neighborhood. Diego (Rene Alvarado), a want to be chef is torn between his higher aspirations and loyalty to his family and David Benton plays Pablo, his secret lover, is a real estate man and a weasel that is in conflict with his sexuality. He eventually proposes to Diego's sister, Bianca (Gladys Jimenez) who has tramping her way through Europe. This is his way of hiding his homosexuality.
Surprisingly, the cost of real estate in the area begins to rise and rise and rise and people begin to move to the East Side. A new transportation system is to be put in and luxury condos are scheduled to be built. The future of East L.A. is questionable and we get a glimpse of reality of what happens when a neighborhood is gentrified.
This is quite a surprise for a low-budget film. The direction is almost perfect and the drama is touching and the humor is very, very funny. It is basically a coming-out story that doesn't at all feel like one. It is done in a modern way as the scenes and message is loud and clear without overshadowing the personal story of Diego. It infuses humor with poignancy. The actors are good-looking, the story is compelling and the music is just wonderful. Above everything else, this movie has heart. Love, care and hope explode on the screen right next to dreams fulfilled.
"East Side Story" shows us how bias hurts and that we fear what we don't understand and what we fear we destroy.

By: Paul Anthony

Diego portrayed his part perfectly.
Nearly 30 and still as innocent as an untouched Babe.
Plus he is beautiful and very modest as well.
He should have it all: The best restaurant, fine house and beautiful boyfriend who can remember the first night they made love.

By: rvf35

OK, it's supposed to be a comedy, but be serious. We're supposed to believe that the two leads, Diego and Wesley, are supposed to be nice normal guys, yet other characters are just so ridiculous. So nice guy Wesley is supposed to be partnered up with Dennis, the nastiest little bigot east of the Mississippi? A guy like Wesley wouldn't even go on a 2nd date with Dennis, yet we're supposed to believe they've been together for 2 years and bought a house together? The characters of Pablo and Bianca (Diego's boyfriend and aunt, respectively) are no less ludicrous. Maybe the filmmaker is trying for absurdist, but it just comes off as pathetic. Yes, some of the guys are very cute, but there's nowhere nearly enough sex and skin to make this even a guilty pleasure. I don't know if I'd bother with ESS as a rental - FORGET buying it!

By: Janorm

This a truly enjoyable love story based on the misadventures of a group of people searching for love(mates) in their own peculiar ways. This film follows all of the classical precepts of the movie genre. Take your love one to see this film! Poignant ending!!

By: Luis Rolando

East Side Story works as a nice little companion piece to the recent indie hit Quinceañera, and is a much lighter (yet sometimes offensive) offering. The performances are stellar, especially Mr. Alvarado and Ms. Jimenez. Although I enjoyed the movie as a whole, I would've liked for Mr. Portugal to have created a story that tried to diminish stereotypes between gays and Latinos, instead of sometimes tastelessly perpetuating them.

By: rthndman

This movie moved too slowly and was unbelievable. Just when you think you are going to watch a good steamy scene, it moves to something else. I was disappointed in this movie. The guys, however, are good looking and sexy. But overall, I would rather have rented it.