Manito (film)

Manito is a 2002 American independent film written and directed by first time film maker Eric Eason. Shot in the cinema verite style, Manito chronicles 48 incidentpacked hours in the lives of a Washington Heights Latino family. One of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, Manito was hailed by critics as a film that heralded the reemergence of American neorealism and won a Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Film Festival and Best Emerging Filmmaker at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The day is focused on a big event Younger sibling Manny is graduating from high school, a huge party is planned, and he is headed for Syracuse University on a full scholarship. He is the apple of everyones eye, including his grandpa Hector Gonzalez. Conspicuously absent from the preparations, however, is his and Juniors father Oscar Manuel Cabral, who runs a bodega in the neighborhood but is ostracized from all contact. Only well into the storyafter hes been forcibly ejected from the boisterous celebrationdo we learn why Oscars criminal activities landed Junior in prison, after which the father abandoned him and the rest of the family. This black sheeps uninvited appearance casts a pall over the hitherto raucous party. As it breaks up, Manny insists on escorting home his date, gorgeous singlemom classmate Marisol Jessica Morales. On the subway, two punchdrunk thugs interrupt their sweet courtship. When things get scary, Marisol uses her mace can, instigating a harrowing chase from which the young couple barely escapes. Shaken, Manny refuses an offer to sleep over. Marisol, afraid the thugs are still waiting outside, presses a handgun on him for protection.The next morning dawns with a new series of cell phone calls Manny is in jail for shooting an attacker whos now in a coma the second assailant is still at large. Junior knows from experience that little bro doesnt have what it takes to survive long in prison, especially since hes swiftly transferred to the hardcore Rikers Island. ........

Source: Wikipedia