Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

East Side Story (2006) Written and Directed by Carlos Portugal
 
"What's happened around here? I'm gone for a month, the chef dies, the restaurant is bankrupt, your ex-boyfriend is now engaged to my daughter, and I find you in bed with the gringo from across the street!"  --Sara Campos
 
Diego Campos (René Alvarado) is an aspiring chef who works in his family's home-style Mexican restaurant in East LA.  He is in the closet in the tight-knit Latino community, as is his ultra hot boyfriend, Pablo Morales (David Berón).  But then something happens to upset the apple cart.  Diego's crazy aunt Bianca (Gladise Jimenez) blows back into town, and through callus stupidity, outs Diego at work.  While Abuela Sara (Irene DeBari) takes a vacation, Bianca is supposed to help Diego run the restaurant. 
 
Well, the cook, Don (Luis Accinelli), is a huge homophobe, and now Diego's secret is out.  Pablo dumps him.  Just like that.  And worse, two days later, he is dating Bianca!
 
Meanwhile, the barrio is experiencing gentrification as more and more homosexuals move in and repair older homes.  There are real fears in the neighborhood that the flavor of their enclave is changing.  Diego and Sara's new neighbors are such a couple, Wesley and Jonathon (Steve Callahan and Cory Alan Schneider).  Diego finds Wesley very attractive.  Jonathon finds Diego to be an ethnic peon who doesn't know his place in his own neighborhood.
 
Diego is counting the days until Grandmother Sara gets back and he can leave.  Don is as hateful as he knows how to be, Jonathon is as snarky as he knows how to be, Pablo is as callus as he knows how to be, and Wesley doesn't have any idea how tempting he is.
 
This is a standard light gay romantic drama leavened with comedy.  Well, no, those all take place in West LA.  This one actually does considerably better than most thanks to a strong story line that deals with ethnic issues of being un maricon while Latino, and coming out in such a culture.  It also presents some real social insight, in a humorous stylized way of the conflict of ethnic diversification of traditional enclaves, and the dynamics of family.  Also, it nicely portrays the power of denial.
 
Of course, it has to work around to a happy ending, but it doesn't go the path you would think.  That is refreshing.  Also refreshing are the strength of the performances.  Steve Callahan didn't have to do anything but be reasonably attractive in a WASPy sort of way.  Yet he brings a lot more to the table, mostly in the quality of his silences, and the way he lights up when he smiles.  The other gringo, Cory Schneider, is a stitch, as the kind of self centered @$$#0!3 who give both Maricons and Gringos a bad name.  He has to know someone like that to do it so well.
 
But best of all are the Campos; René Alvarado as the bewildered Diego, trying so hard to please everyone and keep things going.  When he learned to stand up on his hind legs and growl, I cheered.  And the patient wisdom of Abuela Irene DeBari.  She shows hidden depths.  But the scene stealer is crazy aunt Bianca, Gladise Jimenez; good actresses kill for a role like this, and she probably left a string of bodies on the way to the studio.  She worked this part for every scrap she could wring from it, and left me limp from laughing.
 
It is almost a given that a gay movie is going to be 1) indie, 2) low budget, and 3) unpredictable in quality.  Well, this one is.  Independent as heck, low budget, yes, and remarkably good.  They squeezed all the juice from this story.  I can't wait for Carlos Portugal to try his hand at this again.

Gay Movies:

La Mission***Burnt Money***8: The Mormon Propo$ition***In The Flesh***The Sensei***The 24th Day***Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon***ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction***East Side Story***Dorian Blues***Creatures From the Pink Lagoon***Satyricon***Ice Men***Richard O'Briens Rocky Horror Tribute Show***Prom Queen***The Kids are All Right***Between Love and Goodbye***The Mudge Boy***That Man: Peter Berlin***A Single Man***Almost Normal***Outing Riley***Outrage!***Law of Desire***Love is the Devil***Cowboy Junction***Horror in the Wind***Bedrooms and Hallways***Cut Sleeve Boys***Big Eden***For A Lost Soldier***Midnight Cowboy***Redwoods***The Massuer***Boy Culture***Breakfast With Scot***The Fluffer***Flesh***Little Ashes***L.I.E. ***Dorian Gray***9 Dead Gay Guys***Shank***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry***Beautiful Boxer***Bangkok Love Story***Schoolboy Crush***Shelter***Back Soon***Dog Tags***Theft***The Mulligans***The Velvet Goldmine***Swashbuckler***Smoke Signals
***C'Thulhu***Milk***The Picture of Dorian Gray***Brideshead Revisited***Notes on a Scandal***RocknRolla***Mamma Mia!
***Priscillia: Queen of the Desert***The History Boys***Brokeback Mountain***The Broken Hearts Club*** Yaji and Kita: Midnight Pilgrims ***Surge of Power ***In & Out ***Mambo Italiano ***Touch of Pink ***To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar ***Wolves of Kromer ***Rocky Horror Picture Show ***Taboo ***Deathtrap 


Gay Themed Series:

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Dante's Cove
Hex
Carnivale Season One
Carnivale Season Two
Rome Season One
Rome Season Two
True Blood
True Blood: Season Two
The Book of Daniel: The Complete Series
Torchwood: Children of Earth
Torchwood: Season One


Gay Animation:

Pirate's Booty***Sensitive Pornograph***Loveless: The Complete Series***Loveless: Hope on the Run***Loveless: Soul of Chains***Loveless: Lost and Found***Embracing Love: A Cicada in Winter***Embracing Love: Cherished Spring ***Stonewall & Riot***Drawn Together Movie: The Movie***Drawn Together: Season 2***Drawn Together: Season 3

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age