I Am Gangster

I Am Gangster is a gripping and harrowing drama film from 2015, directed by Moritz Rechenberg and starring Rick Mancia, Abraham Bobadilla, and Gilberto Ortiz. This film offers an unflinching and brutal portrayal of the hard life of gangs, the struggle to survive, and the pursuit to find identity and redemption, in the less affluent districts of Los Angeles.

This 105-minutes long drama weaves three complexly interconnected yet somewhat standalone narratives. Starring Rick Mancia, the first narrative focuses on the character David, a young idealist who is juggling between his loyalty to the local gang and his existential longing to escape from this harsh reality. He has a job in the resource-deprived high school and deeply empathizes with the alienated local teenagers who are rapidly driven toward partaking in the local gang activities. One collision after another, he’s faced with heartbreaking decisions that could either bind him to this life of crime or secure his escape from it.

The second narrative showcases the story of Lito, a hardcore gang member played convincingly by Abraham Bobadilla. Lito's story challenges the viewers' perception as they gradually unearth the layers of the character. Despite being knee-deep into the life of violence, crime, and debauchery, his churning inner conflict becomes palpable as the story unfolds. Lito strives to uphold his responsibilities as a husband and father, all the while being embroiled in the revenge politics of the gang world. Given his higher rank within the gang, abandoning the gang lifestyle would carry severe penalties for him.

The third narrative revolves around the character named Miguel, played by Gilberto Ortiz. Miguel is a vocational teenager who unwittingly gets himself into a spiral after involuntarily entering the juvenile correctional system. His journey explores how youngsters from broken systems are inadvertently driven into the vicious cycle of crime and violence. Despite his efforts to avoid this route, the circumstances in the system steer him towards a life he didn't initially intend to lead.

I Am Gangster brings an undiluted, ruthless portrayal of the vicious cycle of crime and violence, truthfully illustrating the socio-economic factors that contribute to the dire problems youngsters face in such societies. The film follows the lives of three main characters, each narrative revealing a unique outlook on gang life, and how desperation and lack of choice can lead one down the path of no return. The tension slowly mounts with each storyline, driving towards an inevitable yet unexpected end.

The craft of this film transcends the usual portraying an honest and harsh depiction of a forgotten part of society, capturing the brooding suspense, the fleeting joy, and the relentless despair that permeates the lives of each character. With an intense script backed by remarkable cinematography, the film succeeds in painting a vivid picture of East Los Angeles's crumbled realities, and the people residing in those realities, just trying to survive.

In terms of performance, all three main leads deliver substantial performances. Rick Mancia magnificently captures David's internal struggle, while Abraham Bobadilla breathes life into Lito's hardened yet vulnerable character. Gilberto Ortiz's portrayal of Miguel's story is equally enchanting and tragic.

The strength of I Am Gangster lies in its grounded depiction of reality. It delves into the relentless grip of gang life and the inescapable cycle of violence, straying away from Hollywood's glorified versions of this world. It's a hard-hitting exploration of broken systems and the human struggle to survive and escape. The storyline, while disturbingly real, serves as a criticism of social structures and the underfunded, understaffed public systems, ultimately underlining the urgent necessity for reform.