East Side Story

USA 2006 88min
Dir: Carlos Portugal
Starring: René Alvarado; Luis Accinelli; David Berón; Steve Callahan

This light, appealing, love story is set against the traditional Mexican community of Los Angeles that feels under threat when gay ‘gringo’ couples move in and buy up their homes.

For gorgeously muscular, quiet Diego (Alvaredo), who still lives with his grandmother (DeBari) and works in the family restaurant, this has little impact on his life, which currently revolves around secretive fantasy sex with the über closeted real estate agent Pablo. Love-struck Diego is eager to come out with Pablo, but on his impassioned declaration, his lover heads for the hills and into the arms of Diego’s superficial aunt, Bianca (Jimenez). Adding insult to injury, and blithely unaware of its potentially ruinous impact on the restaurant, Bianca casually outs Diego.

This releases Diego to follow his dreams of opening an avant-garde, award-winning Mexican restaurant in Phoenix. But when delicious Wesley (Callahan), and his less delectable, bigoted boyfriend Jonathon move in next door, Diego becomes torn between living his dreams and loving his dream man.

JHB    Fri 2 / 6.30pm         Thu 8 / 9.15pm             Sun 11 / 8.30pm
CT    Sun 11 / 6pm         Wed 14 / 7pm            Sun 18 / 4pm