Riot (1997 film)

Riot
Directed by Galen Yuen
Alex Munoz
Richard Di Lello
David C. Johnson
Produced by Shelly Glasser
Written by Galen Yuen
Joseph B. Vasquez
Richard Di Lello
David C. Johnson
Starring Luke Perry
Mario van Peebles
Lucy Liu
Music by Luke Cresswell
Steve McNicholas
Cinematography Paul Elliott
Editing by Norman Buckley
Running time 105 minutes
Country  United States
Language English, Spanish, Chinese

Riot is a 1997 television movie starring Luke Perry, Mario Van Peebles, and Lucy Liu. It was written and directed by four writers and directors of four different racial groups prominent in Los Angeles. The title riot is the Los Angeles riots of 1992 that were sparked by the beating of Rodney King, and the subsequent acquittal of the four officers who beat him.

Contents

Plot

The film dissects the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and the ensuing riots through four narratives. A Chinese liquor store owner tries to come to an understanding with his assimilating teenage son who sees his father's old world ways and non-aggressive Buddhism as signs of weakness. A Chicano teenager tries to live a straight life and do well in school so he will not make the same mistakes his older brother had made, and be able to provide as best he can for his current and future family. A white LAPD officer struggles with obligations from his new girlfriend and not-quite-ex-wife, while confronting a surprisingly gung ho attitude from his fellow officers. An African American middle class man who has recently moved his new family out of "the ghetto", visits the store his father used to own in the old neighborhood and seeks to give some good news to his mother who has vivid memories from living through the Watts riots less than thirty years prior. These four stories are nominally separate vignettes, but interact with each other throughout the film.

Cast

Actor Role
Dante Basco Jeffrey Lee (segment "Gold Mountain")
Mako Mr. Lee (segment "Gold Mountain")
Kieu Chinh Mrs. Lee (segment "Gold Mountain")
Derek Basco Lyle (segment "Gold Mountain")
Phil Wong Phil (segment "Gold Mountain")
Douglas Spain Manuel (segment "Caught in the Fever")
Yelba Osorio Iris (segment "Caught in the Fever")
John Ortiz Cisco (segment "Caught in the Fever")
Alexis Cruz Carlos (segment "Caught in the Fever")
Luke Perry Boomer (segment "Empty")
Peter Dobson Chaz (segment "Empty")
Lucy Liu Boomer's girlfriend (segment "Empty")
Mario Van Peebles Turner (segment "Homecoming Day")
Cicely Tyson Maggie (segment "Homecoming Day")
Melvin Van Peebles Vernon (segment "Homecoming Day")

See also

References

External links