Metal music, aerospace engineering, and the American dream collide in the upcoming coming-of-age drama, “Blast Beat.
And as seen in the trailer for the film, “Blast Beat” follows the story of a Columbian family that immigrates to the US to achieve the American dream. The film focuses on two brothers, one a metalhead hoping to land a career at NASA and the other a kid just trying to fit in and finding it difficult in a new country. The film stars Mateo Arias, Moises Arias, Daniel Dae Kim, Kali Uchis, Ashley Jackson, Diane Guererro, and Wilmer Valderrama. “Blast Beat” is directed by Esteban Arango, who co-wrote the film alongside Erick Castrillon.
We saw the film as part of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. In our review, we said, “An atypical take on the coming-to-America story, a sibling rivalry narrative and an examination of America as false utopia, a lot is going on in ‘Blast Beast,’ and what it’s trying to say and achieve, but ultimately, it’s not hard to fall for these characters, turning every fight into something devastating, and every small moment of care, a triumph.”
“Blast Beat” arrives in select theaters and on-demand on May 21. You can watch the new trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
On the cusp of the year 2000, Colombian brothers Carly (Mateo Arias) and Mateo (Moises Arias) prepare to move to the United States for their last years of high school. Metalhead Carly has his heart set on attending the Georgia Aerospace Institute and working for NASA, while his supportive parents (Diane Guerrero and Wilmer Valderrama) seize the chance to escape the political turmoil in Colombia and chase the American Dream. At first, Mateo is the only one to express any cynicism, but when the reality of their new life sinks in, the family struggles to adapt as their expectations are shattered. When events threaten to derail their future, Carly’s dream becomes his only lifeline.