Directed by Colombian first-time feature filmmaker Esteban Arango, Blast Beat tells the story of a family that flees the political turmoil happening in their home country of Colombia and travels to the United States to pursue the American Dream.
The film stars real-life brothers Moises Arias (The King of Staten Island) and Mateo Arias (TV’s Kickin’ It) as brothers Mateo and Carly Andres. Actress Diane Guerrero (TV’s Orange is the New Black) and actor Wilmer Valderrama (TV’s NCIS) also star in the film as the boys’ parents, Nelly and Ernesto.
In the trailer, Ernesto tells his sons that in the U.S., they must have clear goals in mind if they want to succeed. Carly loves heavy metal, but he wants to one day work for NASA, so he has his sights set on studying at the Georgia Aerospace Institute. Mateo is more of a wild card and isn’t quite sure what he wants to do with his life.
“If you’re so sick of getting dragged into things, you should start figuring out a plan,” Carly tells Mateo. As immigrants, the Andres family aren’t really sure if any of their plans are realistic, but they seem to be willing to do anything in their power to make them come to fruition.
Blast Beat, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, is adapted from Arango’s 2015 short of the same name. His short film also starred the Arias brothers.
Blast Beat premieres at select theaters and on demand May 21.