The Latino culture is rarely in synch with homosexuality. Strong Catholic upbringings and an uber-macho perception of masculinity often make coming out difficult for Latino LGBT youth.
That environment is expressed in detail in La Mission, starring Benjamin Bratt.
Bratt plays Che Rivera, a Latino ex-con living in San Francisco’s Mission district. When Che discovers that his beloved teenage son, Jesse (Jeremy Ray Valdez), is gay and has a boyfriend (a Caucasian to boot), a shattering conflict between the father and child ensues. Portraying the macho, complex Che, Bratt—long on our radar thanks to Law & Order and other television and film roles—turns in an award-worthy performance. He’s matched by Valdez, who avoids cliché as the headstrong, self-assured Jesse.
Written and directed by Bratt’s brother, Peter, La Mission premiered to standing (and teary-eyed) ovations at 2009’s Sundance Film Festival. It is the closing feature of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 17.
Recently, Benjamin, who also served as producer, and Valdez discussed the film with Watermark.
WATERMARK: Che represents such a dichotomy—a warm, good person, yet hardwired to react with violence and fury towards his son’s homosexuality. All despite a deep love for him and family.
BENJAMIN BRATT: It would be all too easy to demonize Che. Peter wanted to illuminate both characters’ journeys. Jesse probably has the more difficult journey—to reveal who he is to the person he loves the most, with the likelihood of losing that relationship… all while facing fear, potential rejection, violence and even death. On the other side of the coin, you have someone who has an equal fear of losing the person he cherishes the most. Che can’t help but see Jesse as a direct reflection of who he is as a man. And if he’s gay, which is feminine, he’s “less-than.” Calling someone a ‘faggot’ or ‘bitch’ is to feminize them. That speaks to misogyny. That’s the lesser of the species. But that’s how most men are socialized. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in the Mission or Des Moines.
Jeremy, have you ever known someone in your character’s situation?
JEREMY RAY VALDEZ: Yes, I have. I spoke with a lot of my gay friends and asked what was it like coming out. I got to hang out with one of [the film’s] advisors, John Amaechi—the first NBA player to come out—on the set. He told me about how guys who were his buddies—that he high-fived in the locker room and had great relationships with—turned their back on him [when he came out]. He said he didn’t want to be a part of the NBA or play basketball any more because people were so mean. That gave me a lot to think about. But we wanted to portray Jesse as a strong character. Today’s gay youth is different than last generation’s. Now there’s a sense of empowerment and they’re not afraid to come out as much as they used to be. “Love me for who I am,” is what he’s saying.
Ben, you and Peter were born in San Francisco, grew up in and around the Mission district, and employed a lot of locals for the film’s production. Did anyone involved share Che’s disgust regarding the gay topic matter?
BB: There was an incident when we were shooting the scene outside the house and Jesse was getting a beat down [from Che]. Some homies pulled up and asked, “Why is he getting the beating?” We didn’t hide the storyline from anyone, in fact we encouraged people to understand what it was about, and when they discovered why he was receiving the beating in the context of the story [their reaction] was, “Good, shit, he deserves it.” But the community could not have been more supportive.
How was working together?
BB: The entire story and authenticity we were aspiring to as filmmakers hinged on Jeremy’s performance. If you don’t believe he is who he’s supposed to be, the whole story falls apart. But he got it, the balance that one must maintain to walk in both the Latino and gay worlds. He had the strut; the physical presence he inherited from his father so he could support himself to survive in the hood. Yet he also had the sensitivity and genuine love.
JRV: The toughest scene was when [Che and Jesse] are eating together after he comes out. Ben gave me just as much emotional reaction when the camera wasn’t on him. It’s a harsh moment, but wonderful. And there’s one subtle thing going on. It’s the way his characters hold their silverware. Che held his fork like a caveman…
BB: Like a prisoner guards his plate, like a shovel…
JRV: I didn’t notice it when we filmed the scene but it’s right there, the difference between these two characters.
BB: It’s a good indication of the difference between a brute and someone with refinement.
The scene where Che encounters Jesse’s boyfriend (played by Max Rosenak) and attacks him, holding him against a wall by his neck, is pretty terrifying and convincing.
BB: In hindsight I feel bad. I think I really spooked Max. I lifted him off the ground, so his reaction was quite real. He gave me a wide berth afterwards, let’s put it that way.
see+hear
What: La Mission
Where: Tampa Theatre
When: Sunday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
Tickets: tiglff.com
