Prototype Issue
Documentary Gets to the Root of Gang Violence
By Kamren Curiel
(page 1 of 1)It's rare to see a film that really moves you towards seeking out change; change from within, change in the community, and change in the system.
That’s exactly how I felt after seeing Father G and the Homeboys at the Arclight Cinemas in October for the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. The only Latino film festival based in the heart of the film industry, Father G sneaked into the documentary category so humbly that I would’ve never heard about it had I not attended the grand opening of Homeboy Industries’ new Chinatown location the week before.
Directed by Pete Tapia and John Bohm—two men who, judging by their looks, would appear indifferent to violence in East LA—Father G chronicles the lives of four Latino gang bangers guided by Father Greg Boyle and his nonprofit operation Homeboy Industries down the mountainous path of self-transformation.
Taking you back to late 80s and 90s Boyle Heights, a time when the ‘hood was one of the most gang-infested, Father G documents a huge chunk of LA’s neglected history as seen through the eyes of four homies who have lived it.
I was instantly drawn into the lives of Joe, a formerly incarcerated White Fence gang member addicted to meth; Frances, a diehard chola down for her block who becomes a loving mother fighting for custody of her kids; “Droopy”, who was born into a family of gangsters and realizes that in order to stay alive needs to break the cycle; and “Spider”, a tattooed-faced, hardcore cholo with a big heart and sense of humor who removes his tats and parts of his past.
With the intention of having the film be a soulful character study, John Bohm, an elementary school teacher in East LA, had to let go of his first editor, whose vision for a flashy, fast-paced version clashed with his own. He found solace in Pete Tapia, a fellow humanitarian and director of music videos, commercials and documentaries.
After their first meeting at Homegirl Cafe in Boyle Heights, Tapia redirected Bohm back to his original mission as they both agreed that the story had to be compelling, powerful, and inspiring in order to enlighten the crowd about the important work Father G and his homeboys do. What resulted, is a film about the power hope has even during some of life’s toughest battles.
Having worked with young women in San Francisco’s juvenile hall for two years, I realized there was still so much work to be done here; especially where I was born, in East LA. Through tales of hardship, the loss of blood, and soulful encounters, Father G awakens the need to nurture the community, something that often gets lost in the daily LA grind.
I wanted to solve the problem of poverty, which ultimately leads to gang involvement and drug abuse. It’s films like Father G that need to be screened throughout schools in the US; and not just because it’s narrated by Martin Sheen, but because real life stories unfold in order to deter kids from a life of drug and gang addiction.
And as every writer knows, sometimes the things that you are most passionate about, are the hardest to sit down and write about. The fear of it not sounding convincing enough, not painting an accurate portrait of how it really went down, always leads to procrastination. So I waited for the film to really soak in, for the lives of the characters to seep into my subconscious, and it happened.
Following the screening was a Q&A moderated by Tapia and Bohm that included Joe and was just as powerful as the film. Joe answered questions raised by former gang members seated in the audience. One of them spoke up about his current struggle to stay out jail and on the right track, often feeling alone in the world. Joe assured him that with hope, anything’s possible. It was a perfect closing for a film that inspires and touches the heart.
Father G can be purchased for $15.99 by emailing jsbohm_2000@yahoo.com. Starting January 1 through February 10, 2008, Father G can be viewed at www.vuze.com. For more information check out www.fathergandthehomeboys.com.
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