KPFA Movie Matinee Presents:
BOULEVARD NIGHTS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Saturday September 28 2019 3:00 PM
at The New Parkway Theater
Forty years ago this summer, in 1979, Warner Bros released “Boulevard Nights,” a film that centers around a fatherless Mexican-American family living in East Los Angeles. The Avila family. Two brothers, Raymond and Chuco, on opposite sides of the spectrum, along with their hard-working mother, will face their greatest challenge when the younger brother, Chuco, is seduced by the gangster lifestyle while seeking acceptance and a sense of identity. As Raymond’s relationship with his girlfriend deepens, he takes steps toward building himself a future. But all that is thrown into jeopardy when tragedy strikes and a gang war erupts.
For the past four decades, the film has been held in such high regard for its cultural importance that in 2017, “Boulevard Nights” was inducted into the National Film Registry, which recognizes films of “cultural, historical or aesthetic significance.” It was the first major studio film to heavily represent low-riding culture, a distinct and significant part of the Latinx experience.
The film stars Richard Yñiguez (Raymond Avila), Danny De La Paz (Chuco Avila), and Betty Carvalho (Mrs. Avila).
After film discussion led by Miguel Molina of Flashpoints and La Onda Bajita.