One of the many things I love about movies is that they take you places you would probably not go to or know about. "La Mission" takes place in that neighborhood of San Francisco that is a few minutes from the Castro area but is a completely different world. It is about a world of 'low riders' another world I don't/didn't know about.

The screenplay written by Peter Bratt, who also directed, stars his brother, co-producer, Benjamin Bratt, as Che Rivers, an ex-con, alcoholic, bus driver, low rider, widowed and single dad to Jes, played by Jeremy Ray Valdez. Che's answer to most things is violence and he becomes very violent,  in front of friends and neighbors, upon accidentally finding out that his soon college bound son is gay. Che also finds his emotions erupting romancing a new tenant Lena, played Erika Alexander.

It's hard to imagine any other actor being able to make this powder keg of a man sympathetic to an audience but Benjamin Bratt brings every bit of his charisma to pull you to his side though you don't want to. Jeremy Ray Valdez matches him step for step and has one indelible moment where he flinches that is not easy to forget. Another stand out in an excellent cast is Erika Alexander who I am not familiar with but certainly would like to see in more films.

There are a few flaws in this movie, one in particular annoying to me was the director going to a black screen too often which is jarring and disrupting the pace of the story.  This film, that shows how hard it is still for a gay son to come out, especially to his father, is predictable in some aspects and the ending might be disappointing to some in the audience for the wrong reason. The screenplay has one too many cliches and some of the dialogue is film 101.

La Mission is an interesting, independent movie with some fine acting, good photography, showing a San Francisco district and a group of men not known to many people.

This is one of the best movies I have seen this year and I hope Benjamin's performance is not forgotten by the time award season rolls around and Erika certainly deserves a nod.