Brownsville Bread is based on the critically acclaimed one woman show, and award-winning young adult novel, Brownsville Bred. Elaine is a spunky eight year old, living with her Mom, Dad, and three half-siblings as one of the only Puerto Rican families in the welfare projects of Brownsville, Brooklyn, in 1980s New York City.
Her best friends are her intellectually disabled aunt, Elizabeth, and her musically gifted, salsa-loving father, Manny. Elaine idolizes her father and is incredibly proud that she has inherited his artistic ways. Through Elaine’s young eyes, life is perfect. But everything comes crashing down when she discovers a tragic truth that will affect her life forever.
“It has been my long-time dream to realize Brownsville Bred onto the screen,” Del Valle says. “With a trail of award-winning short films that I have directed over the last few years, I find myself ready to tell this, my most intimate story.”
The cast includes Summer Rose Castillo, Javier Muñoz, Karina Ortiz, Susanna Guzman, Kevin Chacon, Neo Vela, Kimora Cuadrado, Gabriela Amerth, Jon Freda, Pierre Jean Gonzalez, and Byron Clohessy.
Elaine Del Valle first received critical acclaim in 2011 when she brought her story Off-Broadway, where she won an HOLA award for excellence in playwriting and she was later featured in the PBS documentary “Beating The Odds,” alongside Michelle Obama.
The film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, after being online the last two editions due to the COVID pandemic.
“I want audiences to understand that anyone can transcend history, break the poverty cycle, and blaze an inspiring path, Brownsville Bred will dignify marginalized voices of color–NOT DESPITE where they come from, BUT BECAUSE of where they come from.” -Said Delvalle
