Art, in its varying forms, can change lives and save them. Having an outlet to express one’s innermost emotions and thoughts is cathartic for the creator and can inspire those who behold it. Aristotle Torres’ debut feature film, Story Ave, follows the life of a young creative trying to process his grief, navigate his dysfunctional home life, and find his place in the world.
Kadir (Asante Blackk) is a young man drowning in a sea of grief and regret after the tragic death of his younger brother. The death weighs especially heavy on Kadir, as he was supposed to be babysitting his brother when the tragedy occurred. His mother (Cassandra Freeman) is a shell of her former self and spends days in bed grieving her deceased child. She also barely contains her anger that Kadir “let her baby die.” Add a pushy stepfather (Hassan Johnson) to the equation, and you have a recipe for a volatile home life.
Initially, Kadir’s source of solace is a gang of graffiti artists led by a friend’s older brother (Melvin Gregg). Before he can be fully initiated into the gang, he’s sent to rob a stranger and bring back the fruits of his theft. As fate would have it, the would-be victim of his crime is Luis (Luis Guzman), a kind MTA worker who ultimately takes Kadir under his wing and pushes him toward a brighter future.
Story Ave is an emotional and profoundly moving film that will leave you on the verge of weeping by the time the credits roll. Kadir’s evolutional journey from a grieving and disillusioned boy to a confident and optimistic young man is beautiful. Blackk infuses the character with so much charm, vulnerability, and heart that you can’t help but root for the character’s success and happiness. Blackk’s facial expressions convey so much inner torment, uncertainty, and pain. His performance is truly one for the books.
Guzman does an excellent job in his role as well. His character, Luis, cares about Kadir and wants to help him reach his potential. He isn’t perfect and has his own flaws to overcome, but he is a loving and fatherly individual, and Guzman’s portrayal brings such vulnerability and seriousness to the role that you can’t help but love the character.
Cassandra Freeman does an excellent job in her role as Kadir’s mother, and many viewers will walk away wishing the film had utilized her more. It’s clear why it didn’t, because when it’s all said and done, it’s Kadir’s story. That being said, it would have been nice to see more of her working through her grief so that she could be there for her remaining child.
Melvin Gregg’s character, like many others in the film, teeters the line between likable and unlikable. Yes, he’s the leader of a dangerous gang, but he also genuinely cares about the young men under his tutelage. He also displays a fondness for respecting the community his gang lives in. Ironically, they are drawing graffiti all over local buildings, but the character also displays a huge distaste for littering. Gregg does a great job of believably portraying the character as multilayered, and like most humans, contradictory in his actions. Other cast members like Coral Pena, Alex R. Hibbert, and Hassan Johnson do a good job in their roles as well.
One of the best things about the film that we would be remiss not to mention is its use of setting. This film is a love letter to the Bronx, and its use of the urban landscape to bring the journey of these characters to life is amazing. Whether it’s the sunlight gleaming off a passing subway car or the sides of dilapidated buildings used as canvases to honor and remember the revered dead, Torres’ version of the Bronx vibrates with life, color, danger, and ultimately, salvation.
Story Ave is a moving and thoughtful film about the crossroads in life where grief, friendship, and creativity intersect. It also highlights the importance of found families and the role they play in opening one’s eyes to how wonderfully remarkable they can become.
Story Ave is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Kino Lorber.
Story Ave is a moving and thoughtful film about the crossroads in life where grief, friendship, and creativity intersect. It also highlights the importance of found families and the role they play in opening one's eyes to how wonderfully remarkable they can become.
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GVN Rating 8
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Writer. Video Essayist. Film/TV Critic. Pop Culture Enthusiast.
When he isn’t writing for Geek Vibes Nation or The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found typing away at one of the novels or screenplays he’s been working on forever.