This film is a winner from start to finish. It has everything. Great story! Great cast! But more than anything else it grabs you by the heart and never lets go. This story speaks the truth in its every nuance. The people behind this film knew what they were doing and they did not miss a trick. Authentic is the word for this film. Authentic and true. There are simply no clichés, no stereotypes, just real people living out their lives the best way they can. The cast is so perfect it hurts. Yet none of the leads seems to have made it big based on information here at IMDb. What a shame! But, hey, that's life in Hollywood - lots of talented people who never make it. And this cast has talent in spades. This film is a real collector's item, the kind of film you keep among your very favorite films and never forget it. You just want to see it again and again, it is so perfect. A real gem.

aaahahahhhahahaa!! WTF?! why has NO one mentioned the *ucked up ending eh? i mean really the movie was decent, kept my interest at least though definitely cliché. but the end images? the last line being 'we will just have to see' the cut to a bunch of images of other latino folks doing the stereotyped Mexican-American jobs. it seems to convey that since he is gay (and finally was pushed into confronting it with his family) that he is special, talented, gifted, able to step out of the tight fitting molds which our culture like to put on Mexican-Americans. i am not running my mouth about any crap, no dissing or dismissing on queerfolk. it seemed to suggest that because he was gay it made him better able to step out of his racial role and be a 'success', while the rest of the la mexicans don't have what it takes. just seemed damned separatist to me. got a different view of the last 30 seconds? do tell.

With the high score here on IMDb, I was expecting far more than this film delivered. East Side Story is technically fine with respectable acting, yet the plot was just so much frothy fluff with nothing to bite into. There's no tension or drama, and not enough laughs to be a comedy either.There are dozens of gay-themed films available that have a sharper edge and allow the viewer to actually feel something instead of watching a few gay men in a cheesy, predictable, plain-vanilla sitcom. Admittedly, many of the best movies are foreign -- which is fine by me. If you haven't already, view the many titles from Latin America, Europe and Asia for a sharper taste and story lines you won't find from US studios. Can't honestly give ESS any more than 4 stars out of 10.

Very enjoyable, well-acted, well-scripted romantic movie! It's hard to believe this is Mr. Portugal's debut film. It doesn't hurt that the movie is chock-full of really cute actors, with enough shirtless scenes and quick rump shots that titillate. ;)Great characters--almost all the main characters were fully developed. Unlike many gay films, some female characters were given genuine roles and they soared with them. There was definitely a chemistry between ALL of the actors and the movie flowed very well.Standout performances by René Alvarado as Diego and Irene DeBarri as his grandmother. This is the best film I have seen so far this year at New Fest in NYC.