Product Description

Called a "feel good movie" by its fans, this appealing debut film of director Carlos Portugal suffers from no freshman errors, as Portugal confidently tells the story of Diego (played by the wonderful and charming René Alvarado), a young, closeted Latino, who helps his grand-mother (standout Irene DeBarri) run the family restaurant while carrying on a clandestine relationship with equally closeted Pablo (the delightful David Beron).

Diego has long felt trapped by the conservative culture of East LA and plans to move away and open an upscale restaurant, hopefully with his lover. But Pablo views their situation very differently - a point driven home when he begins dating Diego's spirited Aunt Bianca (hilarious sexpot Gladise Jimenez). At the same time, white gay men like Jonathan and Wesley are moving in, gentrifying the neighborhood. The attraction between Wesley and Diego is immediate and electric, forcing both men to reexamine their state of affairs in this entertaining comedic drama.

A "coming out" story that avoids all the tired cliches and stays committed to telling the stories of these characters, East Side Story examines bias of all kinds and features stirring performances by incredibly attractive actors. This story sweetly appeals to the romantic impulses of us all, gay and straight.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6369 in DVD
• Brand: EAST SIDE STORY (DVD MOVIE)
• Released on: 2007-12-04
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 88 minutes

Amazon.com
Handsome restaurateur Diego (Rene Alvarado, Fall to Grace) thinks he has the perfect boyfriend--until Pablo (David Beron, Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders) makes it clear he's not coming out of the closet, in case it might threaten his real estate business. Of course, Diego himself isn't out at work--until his flighty aunt Blanca (Gladys Jimenez, Tremors: The Series) casually reveals this to the homophobic staff. Heartbroken and alienated at work, Diego gets distracted when Wesley (Steve Callahan, Nine Lives) and Jonathan (Cory Schneider, The M.O. of M.I.), two hunky guys who are apparently allergic to shirts, move in next door. But as sparks start to fly with Wesley, Jonathan attempts to use racial strife as a tool against Diego. For a low-budget gay romance, East Side Story has broad ambitions, juxtaposing racism and homophobia without getting too heavy-handed with either. The script and the acting are a little wooden, but sincere warmth, flippant humor, unapologetic directness about its characters' lives, and a lot of well-muscled bodies give this movie its appeal. Irene DeBari, as Diego's grandmother, provides a lot of the movie's heart. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

what the...?!
This movie, and I use the term loosely, was atrocious. It was HORRIBLE. It was...I can't even explain it. Filmakers should know better than to make a movie on vhs. It just ends up looking like a well...a vhs a home movie. SSSSOOOO BAD!!!! The acting was bad, the writing was bad, the cinematography was bad, the directing was bad and the editing was bad. There was nothing new or exciting about this film. I had high hopes for it, and the worst part was the boyfriend of the neighbor guy who was completely over acting his stereotype. It was gross. The best part of the of the movie was the ending, you know...when the credits roll up. Skip it. Trust me.

One of the better gay movies
My boyfriend and I watched this movie for the very first time this past week. At first I didn't think it was going to be that good but I gave my boyfriend the benefit of the doubt and watched it anyways. I thought the one pretentious gay boyfriend was too stereotypical....unless that's the way they really are in L.A. Having seen some of the other gay movies that are out there, this is one of the better ones. It's one that I am going to add to my collection.

A Little Bit of Everything

"East Side Story"

Amos Lassen

A Little Bit of Everything

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 cliche. 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.
If you like romance, you will love "East Side Story". It is well-acted, literate scripted romantic movie. The actors are eye candy and thereby titillate but it is the direction and script that make this moving so endearing. Lively characters also help to make this movie a winner.
"East Side Story" tells of a young man in his twenties who after several vain attempts manages to find himself and someone to share his life. Jumping off of the premise of the original "West Side Story", it looks at the class differences between the wealthy in Los Angeles's Echo Park and the middle class Latino community of the area whose neighborhood is being gentrified by the more well-to-do.
Good looking Diego is ready to take a major career step as well as a romantic step with his boyfriend, Pablo who is in the closet. But there are problems that arise. One of which is his new "Anglo" neighbor and another is with his aunt Bianca who is "starved for love". Also his Latino neighborhood is intolerant. Diego helps run a family restaurant has literally no friends and his relationship with Pablo is hurt by his boyfriend not being open about his sexuality. Diego is also somewhat closeted but really wants t come out and when the gay couple move in next door, the opportunity is there to do so. Diego falls for one of his neighbors and the fun begins.
"East Side Story" is a wonderful film that deals with the way minorities are treated. It shows how we fear what we do not understand and when we are full of fear we tend to destroy. The movie has a great deal to say and does so with humanity and poignancy. What we have in reality is a coming out story that does not seem like one at all. There are none of the clichés so often associated with movies about coming out and the actors are absolutely amazing.
What the movie lacks in plot it makes up for in so many other things--hot actors, lightness and wonderful humor. We do not often get a chance to see a film about a gay Latino who struggles to be himself and openly gay, Carlos Portugal has made a film of which he can be incredibly proud.