La Mission

Directed by Peter Bratt and starring his brother, Benjamin Bratt, this independent film was a hit at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Stick around after the film for a Q&A with the film's cast and crew.

Monday, September 21st 7:00pm & 9:45pm Camera Cinemas 12 201 South Second Street San José, CA 95113

Set in the colorful, seedy streets of the San Francisco district that bears its name, La MISSION is a story of redemption imbued with the curative power of Aztec tradition. Feared, yet respected, as the baddest Chicano on the block, Che (Benjamin Bratt), a reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, resorts to violence and intimidation to get what he wants. A bus driver by day Che lives for his beloved son, Jesse (Jeremy Ray Valdez), his lifelong friends, and his passion for lowrider cars. Che’s macho world is crushed when he discovers that Jesse’s been living a secret life. Che is forced to to reconcile the life he thought he had when his violent and intolerance are challenged by his new neighbor Lena (Erika Alexander). Director Peter Bratt delivers a powerful second feature, which is propelled by commanding performances from Jeremy Ray Valdez and Erika Alexander and exceptional turn by its lead Benjamin Brat. La MISSION is a haunting story of healing and transformation: the healing of a broken man, of a father’s relationship with his son, and of a neighborhood struggling to break the chains of violence.

CAST