Dyana Ortelli

American Me -- Edward James Olmos sets the screen ablaze in this powerful epic about a youth from the streets of East LA who becomes the leader of the Mexican Mafia from behind the gates of Folsom Prison.

Brick Bardo (Tim Thomerson) is a traveler from outer space who is forced to land on Earth. Though regular-sized on his home planet, he is doll-sized here on Earth, as are the enemy forces that have landed as well. While Brick enlists the help of an impoverished girl and her son, the bad guys enlist the help of a local gang. When word leaks out as to his location, all hell breaks loose. Brick is besieged by an onslaught of curious kids, angry gang members, and his own doll-sized enemies, and he must protect the family who has helped him and get off the planet alive.

In what The Hollywood Reporter calls "a brilliant debut", award-winning actor Edward James Olmos sets the screen ablaze with his directorial bow - a powerful, stunning examination of a Latino crime lord, set against a backdrop of prejudice and hopelessness. Olmos stars as Santana, a youth from the streets of East Los Angeles who becomes the leader of the Mexican Mafia behind the gates of Folsom Prison. Once out, Santana discovers that the harsh reality of barrio life and his blood-stained past will not give him the chance to turn his back on his former way of life. With a vehement anti-drug and anti-gang theme, American Me is an explosive and unforgettable epic.

A Hispanic criminal, ruler of his prison during his 18-year sentence, is released and intending to live a peaceful life - but his old cronies force him back into a life of crime. Directed by Edward James Olmos.