Zoot Suit (1981)

In the pulsating heart of 1940s Los Angeles, Zoot Suit, a riveting cinematic adaptation of Luis Valdez's critically acclaimed play, weaves a tapestry of fact and fiction, shedding light on the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder and the ensuing zoot suit riots. The film tracks the stirring journey of Henry Reyna, a charismatic leader of a Mexican-American group, who finds himself ensnared in a web of injustice, blamed for a murder at Sleepy Lagoon without substantial evidence. With the city's moral fabric threatened by the rise of the zoot suit—a rebellious sartorial statement characterized by a long jacket, pegged pants, and a keychain that looped almost to the ankle—the narrative delves deep into the societal attitudes and the palpable tension of the era. Henry and his friends, all zoot suit wearers, become scapegoats in a system seemingly stacked against them. In the midst of this turbulence, defense committee members Alice Bloomfield and George Shearer emerge as beacons of hope. They valiantly wage a battle against the blatant miscarriage of justice, fighting tooth and nail for the freedom of Henry and his friends. An evocative blend of music and drama, Zoot Suit uncovers a pivotal chapter in history, capturing the spirit and the struggle of a generation, while exploring the profound influence of a simple suit on the ethos of an era.

Zoot Suit is a drama movie featuring Edward James Olmos and directed by Luis Valdez.

It is possible to buy Zoot Suit on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.