Avenues

Directed by Aaref Rodriguez

With Tracey Heggins, Hector Atreyu Ruiz, Ski Carr, Rene Arreola and Israel Montano

Saul Sanchez returns home to the rough Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park, also known as The Avenues, after serving a decade-long prison sentence. Once back, Saul seeks a reunion with his estranged young daughter. Guided by a sympathetic parole officer, who discovers his hidden illiteracy, Saul begins writing a letter to his daughter and begins a journey of self-discovery amid pressure from his gangland Avenidas familia. As Saul separates himself from old friends, he mentors a troubled teenage neighbor following an all-too-familiar gang path. Based on a true story, "Avenues" tells a deeply personal story of fatherhood and the isolation felt by former convicts.