‘Story Ave’ Review: Luis Guzmán and Asante Blackk Form An Unlikely Friendship in this Emotional Drama

New York City has been a key player in entertainment since the beginning – both behind the scenes and in the spotlight. There are endless television shows and movies that read like love letters to the radiating city, as well as songs and books, like Sex and the City, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” The Get Down, and many more. The new movie Story Ave, named after the community in the Bronx, shines a new light on the city and its inhabitants, as it follows two individuals, each navigating grief in their own way, who find themselves connected after an unfortunate run-in.

In addition to a respectable love for NYC and brilliant performances, the movie puts forth a genuine exploration of love and loss, and colors its backdrop with exciting graffiti and heartbreaking adventures.

Directed and co-written by Aristotle Torres, Story Ave follows high school artist Kadir (Asante Blackk) in the aftermath of the death of his younger brother.

The teenager, feeling misunderstood, runs away from home after an argument with his mother. He turns to his best friend Maurice “Moe” Hernandez (Alex Hibbert) and the dangerous graffiti gang they’re associated with, which is run by Moe’s older brother, Sean “Skemes” Hernandez (Melvin Gregg). Kadir’s situation worsens and he finds himself in need of money and a place to stay, both of which will only be granted to him by Skemes if he proves himself to be a valuable member of the gang.

Skemes gives Kadir a gun and tells him to commit a robbery, and bring back his earnings. After a night of failed attempts, Kadir tries to rob MTA conductor Luis (Luis Guzmán), but only receives an empty wallet in return.

Luis, a no-nonsense type, takes pity on the young man and invites him to dinner at his go-to place, in exchange for getting him cash from a nearby ATM – which he only forks over after Kadir gives him his gun. Quickly, the two develop an endearing friendship. Kadir moves in with the older man, and he helps him get a job and prepare to apply for art school.

It’s no surprise that Luis Guzmán embodies his role with ease. The talented actor effortlessly toes the line between being a caretaker and friend to Kadir, while harboring a dark secret of his own. Opposite Guzman, Asante Blackk — known for When They See Us and This Is Us — establishes himself as a performer to keep an eye on, as he brings an impressive level of intensity to his character, who is oftentimes paralyzed with fear, loneliness, and anger. Through it all, Kadir is still a heartbroken teenager with dreams and a trusty moral compass, and Blackk conveys that with urgency as he quickly shifts between emotions, and carries himself with soulful eyes and disarming body language. Together, Guzmán and Blackk provide a sense of lightness and hope to the story, even during its darkest moments.

In addition to the noteworthy performances, Story Ave serves as a love letter to the Empire City. Despite its hard-to-stomach storylines and explicit visuals of abuse and violence, the movie refuses to villainize the characters and shows how the city’s crucial socioeconomic problems – like gentrification and education discrimination – have played roles in the various issues the characters are facing. In doing so, the movie paints a picture of the real New York City: the dirty subway trains filled with passionate sports fans, young couples, and fearful transplants; brick buildings and apartment walls painted in colorful graffiti; and late-night diners run by friendly servers who already worked the entire day away at their other job. 

In all, there is much to love about Story Ave. Torres penned a sharp script that highlights the beauty of a city that flourishes, despite the violence and grief its inhabitants carry for themselves and, in some cases, others. And through its unfolding storyline, the filmmaker proves that he trusts his audience by allowing them to draw connections between the themes and the characters themselves, rather than spelling everything out.

More importantly, Story Ave teaches that people — no matter their race, class, or life experiences — will not be left behind or forgotten, and that kindness is our best weapon against a violent world.

Story Ave premieres in theaters starting September 29. View showtimes here.