Facebook effort brings film, Benjamin Bratt to Modesto

There rarely has been as much interest in a movie at Modesto's State Theatre as seen with "La Mission."

Set in San Francisco's Mission District, the movie centers on a Latino father who is upset to learn that his son is gay.

Sue Richardson, general manager of the State, said Latino residents began contacting her more than a month ago asking for the film. They volunteered to hand out fliers to Mexican restaurants and businesses to recruit people to see it.

As a direct result of their efforts, lead actor Benjamin Bratt and his brother, Peter, the film's director and writer, are coming to the State on Saturday to do two Q&A sessions following screenings of the movie.

Benjamin Bratt said he knows of no other similar grass-roots efforts to get the film in other towns.

"We're beyond appreciative to people who take it upon themselves to bring the film to their local area, where it might not play, and are rallying other people — family and friends — to come and support the film," he said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.

Rubi Cervantes-Carrillo, a 27-year-old who is seven months pregnant, started the Facebook page "Bring La Mission to Modesto" and eventually got more than 200 supporters.

She and other passionate fans also organized a festival for the opening this weekend that will include a low-rider car show presented by the Modesto Impala Club; Aztec dancers from Ballet Folklorico Tonantzyn and Los Danzantes del Puerto Folklorico and Ballet Folklorico Anahua; mariachis; and Mexican food.

Cervantes-Carrillo said she was so disappointed that she couldn't make it to the Sacramento showing last month that she was determined to get a screening in Modesto. She had heard about the movie on George Lopez's TBS show, "Lopez Tonight," and was interested because of its meaning.

"Our Hispanic culture is not really adapting to the gays and all of that," she said.

She was excited to meet Maria Rocha and Elizabeth Jiminez, who each separately had contacted the State, asking for "La Mission."

Rocha said she has seen the movie twice — once in Los Angeles and once in Sacramento. She said she was deeply moved by how Bratt's character overcame his tendency to violence, and she loves how beautifully the movie depicts the Mission District, where she once lived.

"I just felt like it was an amazing movie that had such a great story to tell," she said.

She said she is not surprised that the Bratts agreed to come to the movie screening. "I knew it would happen, I had absolutely no doubt it would happen," Rocha said. "I thought it was a good thing. When you're trying to do a good thing, it turns out."

Rocha said she was sick of hearing people complain about the lack of things to do in Modesto and wanted to help create something positive in town.

Jiminez, 38, said she was attracted to "La Mission" because of its focus on such a special neighborhood.

"It hits home," she said. "I grew up part of the time in the Mission. I love seeing movies that were filmed in San Francisco."

Watch Bee Scene on video at videos.modbee.com.