The Bratt Brother's Love Letter

Director and writer Peter Bratt says that his latest film, "La Mission," starring his brother Benjamin Bratt "is a love letter to the Mission District," the gorgeously gritty barrio of San Francisco where both men grew up.

After seeing the film last night on the opening day of the New York Latino Film Festival, I say it's much more than a love note, its a poignant wake-up call to Latinos to do some digging in their closets. The film takes on issues of homophobia, domestic violence, gun violence and the real meaning of familia.

It's a beautiful movie that is simultaneously harrowing and gritty and poetic and lyrical.

It's also an inspiring gem with impeccable timing — the issue of gay marriage is being hotly debated in homes across America. And, it's been Latino voters both on the West Coast, and most recently in New York, who have been particularly and vehemently opposed legalizing gay unions.

The cast — Bratt, Erika Alexander, who plays Lena, Bratt's neighbor and love interest, Jesse Borrego, Rene, Bratt's brother and, Jeremy Ray Valdez, who plays Jesse, Bratt's teen son, deliver from the first scene.

But its Bratt who shines from the moment his ghetto hotness hits the screen. He plays Che Rivera, a single dad ex-con and recovering alcoholic who struggles with his teenage son's homosexuality.

This is no Miss Congeniality dude. Che, the OG and baddest dude in the hood is like you'd expect any man with a dark past to be — muy complicado. Sweet and in touch with his feminine side (he cooks for his son), a family man who is charming and vulnerable. (And fine too, women sighed every time the goateed stud was on the screen.) But Che is also a man who uses violence to get his way.

It's the finest performance of Bratt's film career– he plays Che with all the genius nuance that it takes to play a strong and beautiful Latino from the barrio.

Singer, Frankie Negron sat next to me in the theater and said the film should be required viewing in every American home — Latino or not. Viewers lingered to talk about their personal experiences with homophobic bigotry in their families.

Its true what Peter Bratt said, this is his love song. But rather than making audiences swoon, he's made them think and talk with strangers.

July 29, 2009

(Original link: http://blogs.nypost.com/tempo/archives/2009/07/bratt_brothers.html)