The Other Barrio

As if ripped from today’s headlines covering mass evictions, fires, and protests, and based in part on the December 1975 fire at the Gartland Apartments at 16th and Valencia Streets in San Francisco, director Dante Betteo’s THE OTHER BARRIO follows investigator Roberto Morales as he sifts through the suspicious circumstances of a fatal fire in a residential hotel in San Francisco’s rapidly gentrifying Mission District, and finds himself face to face with corruption at City Hall, murder in the streets, and his own demons.

Adapted from a short story by San Francisco Poet Laureate Alejandro Murguia, and set against the current epidemic of evictions and gentrification, The Other Barrio is a fictionalized account of true events that has considerable relevance to current discussions in Santa Ana regarding the changes taking place in our community, how they affect people who have lived here their entire lives, how they affect artists, and how they are not exclusive to Santa Ana.

These special presentations of The Other Barrio are presented by Arts OC, and are made possible with the generous support of Ernesto M. and Socorro Vasquez. 

“The ultimate Mission story. Told in a surreal noir style, Betteo is able to bring his audience to the very real world of evictions and real estate speculation that is sweeping across San Francisco and the US. Kudos to Betteo and his production team, for it is a most powerful story, Must see. A real gem.” – Celina Rodriguez, KZSF Radio

“The Other Barrio, centerpiece of this year’s SF IndieFest, is an excellent example of independent filmmaking — made ??as a collective community effort, with an ultra low budget and the urgency to communicate a heartfelt message. An ode to a barrio that claims its validity as it seems to be fading away.” Iñaki Fernández De Retana, Remezcla

“A direct call to action.” – Leah Garchik, The San Francisco Chronicle