A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

I just finished the book, written by Dito Montiel. A story of a young boy from Astoria, Queens from in the 80's. With a Nicaruagan father, and an Irish mother travelling to the city taking the tiny alleys that only the locals know, making fun of tourists. Going on the subway, and only knowing New York as home. But with this local neighborhood that is similar to a small town, inside one of the biggest cities that Orlandito (his full name) calls home. He remembers going to the local pool at midnight with his friends, Nerf, Guiseppe, Antonio, and Laurie. Dito also remembers when seeing his best friend/older brother, beat a kid to death with a baseball bat in a gang fight. They were know as "kids from nowhere going nowhere." So many memories. The film was written by Dito, directed by Dito and with that an accuracy of detail, feeling comes along. I have to say from reading the book there's a lot missing in the movie, but there's plenty of information that the movie shows that's not in the book.

Funny thing is, I was going through my Sundance On Demand and only really wanted to watch the movie because Channing Tatum is in it (Step Up).

It's also weird because there are some major names in this, and yet everyone I have talked to has never heard of it. That makes me sad, especially when I was in a state of almost crying when the film ended. And I don't cry for movies. Robert Downey, Jr. is in it, Shia LeBouf (his best movie I've seen yet-- real emotion), Channing Tatum, Melonie Diaz (Hamlet 2, Lords of Dogtown) are stars of this. It's a coming of age story, and can relate to about every teenager I know. The thing that is most relateable is, that exposure to the bigger world out there and the strings of people that link us to our past to and the saints that have helped him along the way-- even though by Webster's definition they weren't exactly the normal "saints."

I love how in this film it shows true, real, raw emotion and it brings an intensity that's hard to come by.

It's a great book to read at about any age, but recommend it for anyone that's a teenager and beyond. Guide to Saints has an On the Road feeling to it that I can't quite capture, but it's there.

Dito dreams of going to California, and making a band with his friend, Matt O' Shea who plays guitar. He wants to leave the city, but is drawn back to it.

With this film, I am starting to recognize some of the Saints in my life. The people who have influenced me, or who I just think are really cool and inspire me to do what I want and will help.

Whether the are my mom's friends, family, my friends, or strangers who later become friends to connections, or a band that I met randomly on the street. My journey has barely started, and I thank you for giving me the encouragement to keep it going. Saints are everywhere, you just have to recognize who they are.