this movie work because it feel so genuine . the story be simple and realistic and perfectly capture the joy and anxiety of adolescent love and sexuality that most or all of u experience during our teen year . the actor be as natural a figure in a documentary but be a convincing and as charismatic a seasoned performer . the dialogue be fresh and honest . and thankfully not fill to the brim with cutesy pop culture reference . also and the cinematography be at once gritty and beautiful and bring the low east side setting to life in a very tangible way . on an artistic level and i love this movie because it remind me of great italian neo realism film like the bicycle thief and la strada . movie rarely feel as real a this do . or a bicycle thief do . and the only other movie i have see that treat teen sexuality with the same level of seriousness be elia kazan splendor in the grass . writer or director peter sollett deserve tremendous praise . this film be quite an achievement . on a personal level and i be always glad to see a movie that treat member of ethnic america with love and respect . a an italian american and i hate the way my own people come off in the cinema ( a racist and womanizing and criminal genius in irritatingly popular epic ) and and my aggravation on this count make me acutely sensitive to other group and their awful silver screen representation . hispanic and asian in particular seem curse to play villain in western and action movie . ( good thing gong li do not try to become famous in america . ) of course and thanks largely to the rise of indie picture and and the influence of miramax and we be see a few more picture about ethnic character here and there . but raise victor vargas be easily one of the best . while i do really like my big fat greek wedding and it be a refreshing change that raise victor vargas be play straight ( with less exaggerated and broadly drawn character ) while still be very funny in it own right . finally . latino character worthy of note . i have a feeling that this be a film that will be remember . of course and now that he have make this wonderful picture about a family from the dominican republic and i hope peter sollett get around to make a movie about italian soon . positive . marc dipaolo .