Story Ave

Directed and co-written by Aristotle Torres, the dramatic film Story Ave is a crossroads-style tale of Kadir Grayson (Asante Blackk) who struggles with not only the death of his younger brother, but with the right path forward.  When a chance encounter causes him to tangle paths with netro employee Luis Torres (Luis Guzmán), Kadir’s world is challenged and his horizons broadened as his talents are viewed as more than just a statement. 

Kadir Grayson is faced with a complicated path forward. Still grieving from the death of his younger brother Malik, he falls into a graffiti gang called Outside The Lines and seeks street art as an expression to process his soul-gnawing feelings….especially when many would claim he was responsible for Malik’s death. When gang leader Skemes (Melvin Gregg), the older brother of his best friend Maurice (Alex R. Hibbert), implores him to rob another person as a means of initiation for official membership into the club, Kadir botches the mission when he runs into MTA employee Luis. Rather than turning Kadir in for his transgressions, he convinces the teen to join him for a meal in exchange for the money that Kadir desires. With guidance from Luis, another young photographer/artist/waitress named Gloria (Coral Peña) and the hope of taking his art beyond the confines of spray-paint, Kadir faces the decision to risk it all for his talent to break away from the gang life or allow his inner demons to push him towards a darker avenue. 

The story that Torres weaves with Story Ave is one that can be appreciated: a redemption story. Blackk’s journey as Kadir slowly unravels his guilt over his brother Malik versus seeking validation and family outside of his grieving household. Kadir’s impressionable mind when he tries to reconcile his grief is heartbreaking yet necessary. And Guzmán’s delivery of the character of Luis gives vibes of an underdog. He drinks, carries his own demons and does not conquer them as he works to keep Kadir’s issues at bay. Luis is imperfect, drunk, yet poignant in the delivery of his advice. But it is Luis’s honesty that finally gets Kadir to open up about Malik and the darkness he carries with him from that tragic day.  

What I would have also loved to have seen more was the artistic relationship between Gloria and Kadir. Peña’s portrayal of Gloria gives Kadir another honest glimpse into the realm of creativity and how raw/inspiring it can be. Like Luis, Gloria’s candor helps to inspire Kadir in his work to submit for a potential admittance to art school….but it could have been more than what felt like a footnote. Gloria deserved a larger storyline, even if only in another interaction or two between Kadir and herself. Both seek to express themselves creatively, although initially Gloria is the one who truly puts herself out there….even for the elite folks that Kadir tries to warn her about. But, still, their rapport creates in an interesting dialogue. 

In life there are always options. Always demons to battle and stories to tell. But what one does with that darkness is up to them. Because even in the darkest of times, beauty can be found and Story Ave is a perfect example of that.