Product Details

• Actors: Jacob Kiron Shalov, Melissa Leo, Jaime Tirelli, Maria Lopez, Angie Ferro
• Directors: Ron Morales
• Producers: Louise Lovegrove, Karin Chien
• Format: NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Studio: CreateSpace
• DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
• Run Time: 84 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002ACPNV2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,575 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving meditation on a child adapting to a new culture, June 16, 2009

By 

Lance Lochin (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santa Mesa (DVD)

Santa Mesa is one of those films where you wish it could go on longer. It's quite an impressive debut for Ron Morales, a former camera/crew member on such films such as the Departed and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. He clearly picked up some major soft skills as he explores the journey of 12-year-old Hector, born and raised in the US, to a strange new land - the Philippines - where he can't speak the native language (Tagalog) and lives with an older relative who can't speak English.

Morales successfully avoids the common cliches of culture clash and poking fun of differences. Rather, through Hector's eyes he gently takes us through a gritty new community where he must learn to survive by choosing his friends, mentors and relationships. One of the main characters is the background of poverty along the railroad tracks where Hector now must call home - a constant reminder of the challenges and noise that Hector must filter out and overcome.

The film's milieu and pace reminded me of a younger, coming-of-age Lost in Translation, without the commercial or celebrity overtones. The standout performances from a talented ensemble of mostly unknown actors includes one from the grandmother whose emotion you can feel just under the surface, and the Jose character who is not whom he seems to be. There is a lovely scene where Hector enters a place he is not supposed to be, where you can feel the emotion that he so desperately wants to be there as a throwback to the life he once knew - and yet remains unstated.

The story is both touching and compelling, and like any good independent film leaves some open questions - but only to the extent that you feel you just spent some quality time in a different world that you'd like to visit again. I saw this in San Francisco SFIAAF last year and it won a Fan Favorite award - and it was well deserved!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A MOVING STORY, June 10, 2009

By 

Maimounah Masudi "live happy and strong" (Fayetteville, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Santa Mesa (DVD)

This film was very touching and moving to me as it followed the life experiences of a young boy who left the only place he called home to be introduced to a world unknown on the other side of the planet. Many of us have been through experiences such as these at one point in time in our lives. I loved how the producers were able to make you place yourself in Hector's shoes, the star of the movie and feel many of the frustrations he learned to overcome.

To me, Santa Mesa was about making the best of what you have in life and where you are in life to grasp who you really are in this great, big world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars touching, June 4, 2009

By 

S. Lam "world traveler" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Santa Mesa (DVD)

A very touching coming-of-age story. Poignant without being melodramatic. Beautiful cinematography, terrific performances by the teenage actors. Recommended!