Maze of Fate

I found this movie to be very different from what is normally seen in main stream films. You felt the grittiness of that life. I don't watch this genre very often, but this movie kept you engaged and feeling the palpitations of what was to come next. The feel of the culture was authentic and you felt the intensity of the characters in those situations. The story drove the inter-twinning of the characters to keep you engaged. This is just the beginning for this Director and I will definitely be watching for more to come from him. I hope to see more movies that represent La Raza in an authentic manner, which I feel was done very well here.

A Poignant Meditation on Destiny and Identity

"Live and Die in East LA" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that asks one of the oldest philosophical questions: Is our fate written in stone, or do our choices truly shape our lives? The film centers around an immigrant nurse and a young dreamer from a Chicano neighborhood who aspires to become an astronaut. Their stories interweave across three alternate timelines, each showing how small moments-and powerful, unseen forces-can lead to vastly different outcomes.

The narrative structure is ambitious but handled with care. Each timeline feels unique yet connected, exploring themes of systemic barriers, cultural identity, resilience, and hope. The performances are heartfelt and grounded, especially from the two leads, who bring depth and vulnerability to their roles. The cinematography captures the soul of East LA with authenticity, and the score subtly enhances the emotional undertones without overpowering them.

Though at times the pacing can feel uneven and some plot points could have used more development, the film's core message shines through: the delicate interplay between destiny and choice is more complex than we imagine. "Live and Die in East LA" is a bold, moving story that lingers long after the credits roll.

LIVE AND DIE IN EAST LA is a thrilling film that tells a great story! This is a MUST SEE film! It has great acting in it so is was exciting to watch. The movie has twists and turns and really keeps your attention. The compelling performances and the film's exploration of immigration issues make it a captivating thriller with depth. I'm so glad I found this film and will watch it again!!! It you want a great movie with a great story - this is the film to watch! I would recommend this film and can't wait to watch it again!! I can't wait for the next film from the director. He did a great job on this film and I am looking forward to see what other films he pushes out!

Attila Korosi's film is a production that competes with those big budget films, those films called super productions. It is a film made with a small budget, but it looks like one of those in which a lot of money was invested. And not because of the special super effects, which abound in those Hollywood productions. Attila's movie doesn't have any special effects, you won't see any explosions or anything like that. Instead, you will see exceptional acting performances, both from some professional actors and from others who are not actors. There are some men in this movie who look fiercer and more convincing than in any other Hollywood gangster movie. And that's not because of the impressive tattoos and the fact that they have shaved heads. No, first of all what matters is the level at which the actors live their characters, the way they speak, the way they look, the body language. Robert LaSardo is the most dangerous looking. Followed by Richard Cabral, Lee Coc and Michael Flores. Cesar Garcia is very believable in the role of the trafficker executed in the bathtub, one of the shocking scenes of the film. Another extremely shocking scene is the one where we see how another trafficker's hand is cut off. Anita Korosi, the sister of the character played by Attila, the one because of whom we see almost everything that happens in the film, is a very sexy presence, especially in the scenes where she appears only in a bathing suit. The film is filmed with great attention to detail. The only thing I would have preferred not to be in the movie are the cartoon sequences. Otherwise, the film is a success.

When Attila Korosi gets ahold of the film noir tradition, it comes alive in Live and Die in East LA. Beginning with a caterpillar animation, he lets his aud know there is more to the thrills and violence than usual. He adds the figurative value of showing that drug-dealing and murderous dreams can lead to a moth rather than a butterfly.

As his self-named character, Attila, he leads a band of sometimes dense, and in the case of his sister, Anita, just rebellious, relatives and friends into a labyrinth of drug-dealing to rescue her and learn enough to stay out of trouble for a lifetime.

Despite the gritty hell they descend into as they violently try to survive in a deal that will free Anita, Attila amazingly keeps his crew in a more-or-less benign state because next to the skin-headed, tattoo'd bad boys, they do look like angels. In their misguided sense of righteousness, they are nonetheless canny enough to avoid being murdered, in most cases.

One of the blessings of Live and Die is that unlike in other noirs, Korosi has dialogue that can be heard and shots that can be seen. He has not given into the figurative dark shots and mumblecore speech that often robs the aud of seeing and hearing each frame.

As Korosi marches toward success in the independent, thriller mode, he may very well branch off into the more romantic thriller motif, carrying his caterpillar into the butterfly stage, of say, Affleck's The Town or McDonagh's in Bruges. In any case, he has an independent wi8nner in Live and Die in East LA.