What It Is: Director Luis Valdez is a legend in the realm of Chicano theater and film. His Broadway production Zoot Suit was the first time that Chicanos had been seen on Broadway. The success of the project (or failure depending on how you look at it) led to opportunities to make movies in Hollywood, another place Chicanos really were not seen. Through films like La Bamba and even a film adaptation of his Broadway show, his works showed the world the Chicano people.

What We Think: I sat there as a man of Salvadoran descent and loving what I was seeing. Chicano, as a term refers mostly to those of Mexican-American descent. Specifically those living in the United States and having Mexican roots. We, as a people do not really get to see ourselves in any sort of positive light. Here though, here it was a gorgeous thing to see. What Luis Valdez did and has done for his people is immense. Allowing them to be seen. Allowing art to be made and for them to express themselves.

Our Grade: A-, A real stunner of a documentary. I found myself prideful when all was said and done. Director David Alvarado does a great job putting this all together. Documentaries are some of cinema’s most difficult projects to put together. Making it a biographical doc offers even more challenges. Sundance is notorious for incredible documentaries and this is just another in a long line of wonderful real-life stories.

This is worth a check out if it’s playing near you at some point. Especially for my Latin folks out there. Our history is rich, any time we get to tell one of our stories it is important for us to go and see it.