Dreams beyond the neighborhood

“Washington Heights,” a fine and absorbing film, takes its title from an inviting Latino neighborhood on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where Carlos Ramirez (portrayed by Manny Perez) has lived his entire life. At 28, he has long wanted to escape and pursue his dream of being a comic book artist.

The screenplay is written by Perez and director Alfredo de Villa, in collaboration with Perez’s writing partner Nat Moss. What gives this film its punch is the feeling that Carlos’ story is being told from the inside -- the film may not be autobiographical but its star and director themselves seemingly have experienced the longing and frustrations of Carlos. In striving to satisfy their own creative impulses, they’ve had to reach beyond the borders of their ethnic communities.

At its core “Washington Heights” is a story about an immigrant father and his native-born son. Long ago, Carlos’ father, Eddie (Tomas Milian), gave up his dreams of becoming a singer when he married and had a son. Now widowed, he’s content to be a beloved neighborhood figure, extending credit to old customers at his corner grocery store even though he can’t afford to.

Carlos lands a job in the East Village as a comic book inker. His employer -- also his mentor -- is tough on him because he believes in his talent. Carlos, who works on his own projects when he has time, dreams of becoming a full-fledged artist and moving to the East Village with his longtime girlfriend Maggie (Andrea Navedo), who works as a dressmaker in her apartment.

Neither Eddie nor Maggie takes Carlos’ talent seriously -- his ambition is beyond their comprehension. Carlos’ frustrations are mirrored in those of his friend Mickey Kilpatrick (Danny Hoch), who is the superintendent of the building where Carlos and Eddie live. Mickey works for his demanding father, Sean (Jude Ciccolella), who scoffs at his son’s longing to enter a Las Vegas bowling tournament.

Carlos is already feeling trapped when catastrophe strikes. Tensions between Carlos and Eddie escalate and the ominous state of affairs forces everything out in the open.

As probed by the filmmakers, the predicaments faced by characters in “Washington Heights” are complex and even contradictory. The intricate structuring of the drama heightens the sense of reality and impact.

If “Washington Heights” seems to have been envisioned from within, the same can be said for its performances. De Villa asks his actors to dig deep and they come through. Milian shows us a warm, life-loving man who nevertheless possesses a destructive jealous streak. Perez’s Carlos is consistently sympathetic, even when he gives way to understandable anger. Hoch’s Mickey means well but is none too swift, while his father is capable of generosity to others but not to his own son. And this well-paced film’s realistic style and authentic locales are a perfect fit for the characters and their story.

*

‘Washington Heights’

MPAA rating: R, for language, sexuality, brief violence and drug use

Times guidelines: Some violence, language, sex. Too intense for younger audiences.

Manny Perez...Carlos Ramirez

Tomas Milian...Eddie Ramirez

Danny Hoch...Mickey Kilpatrick

Jude Ciccolella...Sean Kilpatrick

Andrea Navedo...Maggie

A MAC Releasing presentation in association with Samy Boy Entertainment. Director Alfredo de Villa. Producers Luis Dantas, Manny Perez, Tom Donahue and De Villa. Executive producers Peter Newman, Greg Johnson, Joseph La Morte. Screenplay De Villa and Nat Moss; from a story by Perez, De Villa and Moss. Additional writing by Junot Diaz. Cinematographer Claudio Chea. Editor Tom Donahue. Music Leigh Roberts. Production designer Charlotte Bourke. Art director Sandra Goldmark. Set decorator Erik Carrion. Running time: 1 hour 28 minutes.

At selected theaters.