‘Dream’ Shows Strength of Family’s Love
Laurie Collyer’s compelling “Nuyorican Dream,” a significant documentary onCinemax tonight, introduces us to Robert Torres, a 30-year-old gay man, a dedicated teacher with a tasteful Greenwich Village apartment and a family racked by drugs and poverty.
Yet this family is held together by deep bonds of love established by their steadfast mother, Marta.
Torres, whose family moved from Puerto Rico to New York City in 1968, provides the narration. He was the eldest of five children and able to comprehend from an early age how a heritage of colonialism, racism, economic deprivation, inferior education, lack of birth control and aversion to abortion have conspired to keep Puerto Ricans a permanent underclass; drugs are a constant temptation for both escape from chronic despair and the promise of quick money.
Over time, all of Torres’ hopes are pinned on his youngest sister, while the survival of his brother and two other sisters is always open to question.
Music producer Jellybean Benitez and actor John Leguizamo are executive producers of the documentary, which was shot between 1995 and 1999.
“Nuyorican Dream” screened during Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, in July, and was judged outstanding documentary feature.
* “Nuyorican Dream” can be seen tonight at 8:30 on Cinemax.
Only good movies
Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
