La Mission

La Mission (2009)

Growing up in the Mission district of San Francisco, Che Rivera has always had to be tough to survive.

A single-parent ex-con in the Mission District of San Francisco finds his personal values challenged when he discovers his son is gay.

Date of release
2009-01-19
TMDB
5.7 / 10 (32)
Runtime
1h 57m
Genres
Drama
Director
Peter Bratt

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: San Francisco

La Mission is a 2009 drama film starring Benjamin Bratt and Jeremy Ray Valdez. It is written and directed by Peter Bratt. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and screened at various festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It received a limited release beginning April 9, 2010.

Production

Writer-director Peter Bratt said among the challenging aspects of the film's production was raising financing, as he and brother Benjamin were told "more than a few times that 'the gay thing' had already been done and was now passe," referring to films and TV shows like Brokeback Mountain and Will & Grace. "In short order, what these people were saying was that the white experience is the universal one.

Bratt considered filming the movie in New Mexico, where tax rebates allow for productions to be filmed relatively inexpensively. He ultimately settled on San Francisco's Mission District, saying, "In my mind it's one of the most unique American neighborhoods in the country and it has a dynamic that I don't think you can duplicate anywhere else. And the character of the neighborhood kind of informs the story."

The production participated in the San Francisco "Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program" administered by the San Francisco Film Commission.

Several scenes in the movie make subtle hints at environmentally friendly themes, such as converting lowriders to run on biodiesel. The film was also shot on an eco-friendly movie set, one of the first of its kind in San Francisco. The cast and crew eliminated the use of water bottles and used composting on set, while the art department allowed for green product placement in the film.

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