10.12.2009

Sundance Mini-Review: DON'T LET ME DROWN

Brooklyn, NY...

Mexican boy...

Dominican girl...

They hook up...

BIG TIME and often hilarious complications ensue!

To regular folks, a Mexican boy and a Dominican girl hooking up should really be no big deal. But to 1st and 2nd generation Latino New Yorkers that would a huge deal and the unlikeliest of hookups because Dominicans and Mexicans have ethnically diverse backgrounds.

That's the premise of Cruz Angeles's DON'T LET ME DROWN, a sweet and heartwarming post 9/11 love story about two high school kids living in Brooklyn who are trying to build something together, while the world is crumbling around them.

Lalo, the Mexican boy, played by E.J. Bonilla and Stefanie, the Dominican girl, played by Gleendilys Inoa start out as friends after they meet at a birthday party. Their friendship then develops into a romance on the down low.

When I first of heard of the film and it's selection into the dramatic competition, I had hope that the film wouldn't be corny and once again misrepresent Dominicans the way a minstrel show like PRIDE AND GLORY did.

Not the case here.

DON'T LET ME DROWN not only didn't disappoint, it delivered on every level!

I came to Sundance mostly to check out what's going on with the Latin stuff and I think I already found this year's gem.

One of my favorite things about the film is how it absolutely nailed the idiosyncrasies and nuances between Dominican and Mexican New Yorkers, especially when they are trading quips with each other. There was some really snappy dialogue and funny banter between Lalo and his Dominican boys.

Not only is the film a love story but it is also an intimate look into the daily lives and struggles of Dominicans and Mexicans chasing the same dream in New York City.

Lalo's father was a formerly a janitor working at the World Trade Center, now works at ground Zero cleaning up debris while Lalo's mother struggles to make ends meet. Stefanie's family moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn after her sister perished in the attacks. While Stefanie's mother, (played by Gina Torres) tries to hold the family together, her dad (Ricardo Chavira from Desperate Housewives) is overwhelmed by the loss and cannot control his anger. Stefanie's parents are constantly battling over their conflicting ways of dealing with the death of their oldest daughter while emotionally neglecting Stefanie.

I really dug the film and found the stand out performances of the two leads refreshing. My only minor complaint of the film is a subplot involving Stefanie and her dad's friend that comes into play way late in the 2nd half of the movie. It felt totally out of left field, and completely unnecessary.

Other than that, a very solid watch and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes the Audience award.

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