La Mission, is a drama starring Benjamin Bratt as Che Rivera. Che is a recovering alcoholic, and ex-convict that lives and breathes for his son Jess. Jess is a college bound honor student with a secret. They live in the Mission District of San Francisco. The Mission District is under going Gentrification and a hipster neighbor Lena is breathing new life to Che.Che is respected by the homies in his neighborhood. Che is a widower that drives a city bus to provide for Jess. In his spare time Che restores junk cars to classic Lowriders and hangs with his friends. All of whom are in a car club (Mission Boyz). Every week the Mission Boyz go cruising with their friends and loved ones. However, Che has noticed Jess has become distant.

One night after cruising the boulevard Che arrives home and discovers Jess was drinking and passed out. As he scans Jess’s room he discovers Polaroids of Jess and his boyfriend at a club. Eventually Che’s confronts Jess, and he confesses. He is Gay.Jess the all knowing teenager then questions his fathers sexual practices in jail. This infuriates Che so he kick Jess out. The fight ends up on the street, causing a huge commotion in the neighborhood. The Mission Boyz rush to break up the fight between father and son. Che then outs his son to the whole neighborhood. It was clear Jess was not welcome. He decides to moves-in with his godparents Rene and Ana.

Che ponders if this a punishment from God? Why wasn’t Jess normal? Rene reminds Che of what his mother always said “De la espina y el dolor nace la flor”(From the thorn emerges the flower.) However, Che was not convinced.He missed his son but could not accept his sexual orientation.
Che’s conversion comes when Jess is shot as a result of a hate crime. This brings Lena and Che together and although Jess recovers, Che cannot accept Jess is gay. Jess makes the decision to leave his father. This act of defiance causes Che to start drinking and leads him into a downward spiral, affecting his relationship,job and health. Near the end he comes across a crying mother, that opens his eyes without saying a word.

La Mission was directed by Peter Bratt. This film addresses many issues such as single parenting,masculinity, homosexuality, and addiction in the Latino community. Che is raising Jess alone after his wife passed away.And although he is both mother and father, His masculinity is never questioned. He has street cred due to his time in jail but also for his art skills.His reputation is compromised when everyone finds out Jess is gay.The homosexuality was a tough point for both characters. Various times in the film father and son would show reverence to the Virgin Mary or carry a Rosary. The religious beliefs could have been a reason for Che’s reluctance to accept his son. Che was confused and angry at the situation but Jess was only seeking acceptance from his father. Ultimately the pain caused Che to drink, however redemption is never too far off. The film was good but based on Latinidad and masculinidad in Hollywood scripts, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 32:6,948-966, Latino men are marginalized. This script written by a Latino has Che in a poor neighborhood,full of guns and violence. As if the area defines him. This movie is similar to American Me in that aspect and in the notable absence of women.

Ana S. Q. Liberato , Guillermo Rebollo-Gil , John D. Foster & Amanda Moras
(2009) Latinidad and masculinidad in Hollywood scripts, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 32:6,948-966, DOI: 10.1080/01419870802334549