Life behind US prisons.

After watching a number of movies about the US prison system like the recently released Felon and American History X, I decided to try out this one. But I was disappointed. Agreed that this film is told from the Latino perspective. But still it could have been a little more unbiased.

The film begins as biracial teenager Miklo (Damian Chapa) returns to his barrio to meet his maternal (Hispanic) relatives. Eager to be accepted by the Latino family members, Miklo beats up members of the Tres Puntos gang. For this he is initiated in to the local gang Vatos Locos. Revenge comes rather quick, as Miklo's cousin Cruz is badly beaten up and left with permanent handicap. Miklo and his gang decides to take revenge by attacking the rival gang. But things don't go as well as they planned as a gunfight kills the rival gang's leader. Miklo is apprehended by police and send to the notorious San Quentin State Prison. Meanwhile Cruz becomes a heroin addict and his brother Paco (Benjamin Bratt) enrolls himself in to the US Marine Corps.

As Miklo starts serving his sentence in San Quentin, he finds the prisoners divided along racial lines. The Latinos have grouped together under La Onda gang (Equivalent to the current La Nuestra Familia). Similarly whites formed Aryan Vanguard (Equivalent to Aryan Brotherhood. Remember that the Aryan Brotherhood of California, first ever AB formation was formed in San Quentin in 1964) and the Blacks were organised under BGA or the Black Guerilla Army (Equivalent to Black Guerilla Family).

Miklo tries to organize the La Onda against constant attacks from the Aryan Vanguard under it's arrogant leader Red Ryder (Tom Towles). Prison life hardens Miklo as he commands the gambling and drug trafficking done inside the prison. Meanwhile infighting between two factions of La Onda helps the Aryan Vanguard in weakening the Latinos. Same time La Onda leader Montana is killed by the BGA. Miklo convinces his fellow latinos that it is not the blacks, but the AV which was behind the murder. Both BGA and La Onda vows revenge on AV. Paco, now back in US as a cop in Narcotics division tries to reign in the prison gangs. He tries to convince Miklo to give up violence, but in vain. As the film progresses we see the La Onda under the leadership of Miklo eliminating the Aryan Vanguard and the BGA in San Quentin.

One positive point about the film is that it gives sufficient insight in to the Latino/Chicano life inside the barrios. But the prison part still needed improvement. I can't understand why in every film only the White prison gangs are portrayed raping their fellow inmates (Like in this film and American History X). There was one particular scene in which one AV member almost rapes Miklo. Any one with atleast a scant knowledge of the US prison system will tell you that Latino or Black inmates never gets raped by White inmates (Although the reverse is not true, see "No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons" released online by HRW). If the film makers wanted to sent any social message, they should have been more neutral. Also I thought at almost 180 minutes, the movie as too long. It was not boring, but it was tiring (just joking).

But at the same time acting by Damian Chapa and Benjamin Bratt were up to the mark. Acting was natural and the portrayal was realistic. Jesse Borrego also acted well in his role as Cruz. His performance as the drug addict was decent enough.