On the Downlow (2004)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Tadeo Garcia

Writers:

Roger B. Domian (writer)
Tadeo Garcia (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Isaac and Angel are two young Latinos involved in a south side Chicago gang. They have a secret in a world where secrets are forbidden.

Plot Keywords:

Latino | Gay Teenager | Gang Initiation | Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet | Gang Member

Cast

Tony Sancho	...	Isaac
Michael Cortez	...	Angel
Donato Cruz	...	Reaper
Carmen Cenko	...	Isaac's Mom
Felipe Camacho	...	Priest (as Phil Camacho)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric Ambriz	...	Jimmy
Jimmy Borras Jr.	...	Niko
Juan Castaneda	...	Hector
Eddie Cruz	...	Esau
Jason R. Davis	...	Store Customer
Jeff Docherty	...	Dorvak's Partner
Perry Flores	...	Officer Dorvak
Russell Foster	...	Man in Yard
Ricardo Garcia	...	Jesus
Nicolas Gomez	...	Ozzy
Beatriz Jamaica	...	Angel's Mother
Brian Parenti	...	Pinto
Sean Perez	...	Jerry
Adelina Quinones	...	Laura
Octavio Rivas	...	Raul
Jonathan Rodriquez	...	Adam
Pricilla Santiago	...	Burger Joint Girl
Roberto Soto	...	Store Owner
Tatiana Suarez-Pico	...	Mother on Stairs
Andrew Todaro	...	Mike

Directed by
Tadeo Garcia

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roger B. Domian		writer
Tadeo Garcia		writer

Produced by
Tadeo Garcia	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gregory Martin

Cinematography by
Chris Buzek
Tadeo Garcia

Film Editing by
Roger B. Domian
Tadeo Garcia

Makeup Department
Victor Velasquez	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Adrian Cortes	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason R. Davis	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Dan Schiller	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Baclagon	....	gaffer
Marc Menet	....	additional photographer

Production Companies

• Iconoclast Films

Distributors

• Image Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Iconoclast Films

Quotes:

Angel: No use living in hell when you know where the door to Heaven is.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Broken Warning (2002)

Soundtrack:

Baby Be Bop

Tadeo Garcia: A Voice to Hear, A Talent to Applaud

Gradually movie audiences are turning more serious attention to the little Independent films for quality and meaning in story and in style and in brave confrontation with issues outside the perimeter of the Hollywood style films. A fine example is this remarkable film by student Tadeo Garcia whose first year in film school produced the outline of this little gem of a movie and whose courageous 'first film' gained the respect of screenwriter Roger B. Domain who helped him transfer the skeletal story into a full length film ON THE DOWNLOW, all on a budget of $8,000.! From the opening scenes we can sense that we are watching a love story, but it is a story of forbidden love: Angel (Michael Cortez) is escaping his Chicago street gang with the help of Isaac (Tony Sancho) and the two warmly human, supportive, sensitive young youths flee to the territory of Isaac's low neighborhood where Isaac convinces Angel to give up his allegiance to his former gang and pledge to Isaac's gang, a rasty group led by Reaper (Donato Cruz). Very gradually and with incredible decorum Garcia reveals to us that Angel and Isaac are lovers, the only time the union is shown physically is a prolonged kiss in an open night alley, an event which will trigger the force of destiny: it is enough as the scene is passionate yet gracefully not graphic.

The boys' mothers plead with them to not carry guns and to avoid gang alliance, but at the same time they lovingly accept their sons' sexuality. But life is as it is on the streets of south side Chicago and Angel is accepted into Isaac's gang, having to undergo the cruel initiation beating that accompanies his joining. Reaper is later informed that Angel is an ex-gang member of the rival gang and Isaac is the one Reaper determines should kill the offending Angel. The two lovers try to escape Chicago but the inevitable happens and the ending is tragic but with undertones that are subtly captured by Garcia's eye, mind, camera, and heart: the final confrontation scene ends with our enabled view of evidence that other members of the gang share the same 'on the downlow' as Angel and Isaac.

Not only are Tony Sancho and Michael Cortez wholly believable in their dichotomous roles, but the entire cast is filled with raw yet gifted talent: Felipe Camacho as the Priest, Beatriz Jamaica as Angel's mother and Carmen Cenko as Isaac's mother, Donato Cruz as Reaper, Adelina Quinones (a terrific screen presence) as Laura, and all the youngsters who convincingly bring the gang members to life. Yes, there are evidences of low budget constraints, but the overwhelming success of the story of two young men in love against the backdrop of hopelessness of crime is brilliant evidence that Tadeo Garcia is a gifted talent to watch. Recommended for all audiences. Grady Harp