Only the strong survive in the neighborhood.

East LA King

A Jackie Torres Film

East LA King

Drama, Action / Adventure

2002 | PG-13

1h 25m

The criminal career of a young man—formerly the leader of an East Los Angeles gang—is transformed after he serves a prison sentence; upon his release, he faces a harsher kind of confinement: the challenge of navigating life with a new identity and proving he has left his past behind, even though his son fails to grasp the significance of that change.

Cast

Crew

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the movie filmed?

The film was shot in Los Angeles, Glendale, Boyle Heights, and East Los Angeles at iconic locations—such as the 4th Street Bridge, the downtown open-air theater, and the shops along Broadway—capturing places that have since vanished or been completely altered, yet remain documented in the film as a testament to what the city of Los Angeles used to be like.

Is the Price of the American Dream movie based on a true story?

Mexican writer José Ramón Nevarez and Puerto Rican director Jackie Torres wrote episodes that resonated deeply with audiences; José Ramón had lived on the streets and knew firsthand the real-life figures who inspired his story, while Jackie drew on her knowledge of American and Chicano culture to infuse the drama with an authentic sense of culture clash—thereby breaking away from the stiff, clichéd portrayals of Latinos typical of Hollywood cinema.

In what language was it originally filmed?

The film was originally shot in English and Spanish—a blend known as Spanglish—and the director consulted with actual gang members to accurately portray their slang.