Avenues (2013)

Avenues: Directed by Aaref Rodriguez. With Tracey Heggins, Hector Atreyu Ruiz, Ski Carr, Rene Arreola. Saul Sanchez returns home to the rough Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park, also known as The Avenues, after serving a decade-long prison sentence. Once back, Saul seeks a reunion with his estranged young daughter. Guided by a sympathetic parole officer, who discovers his hidden illiteracy, Saul begins writing a letter to his daughter and begins a journey of self-discovery amid pressure from his gangland Avenidas familia. As Saul separates himself from old friends, he mentors a troubled teenage neighbor following an all-too-familiar gang path. Based on a true story, “Avenues” tells a deeply personal story of fatherhood and the isolation felt by former convicts.

“Director Aaref Rodriguez has created a groundbreaking film with u0026#39;Avenues. In a world where heart is truth and apologies are a sign of weakness, Saul (a consistently intense and unsparingly honest Hector Atreyu Ruiz) is released from prison into the scalding heat of a broken area of Los Angeles. Saulu0026#39;s tests range from overcoming his shame to setting goals with his challenging and embarrassingly attractive parole officer (a terrific Tracey Heggins). The characters in this film have no delusions of immortality, yet live there lives to the max.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI shared my excitement with the director after the premiere, telling him I would love to act in a feature like his. Aaref thanked me with a hug.”