Edward James Olmos directs this HBO Films drama that tells the true but
little-known story of a group of Chicano students who staged a compelling 1968
walkout to protest the injustices of the public high-school system in East Los
Angeles. Starring Alexa Vega as Paula Crisostomo, an idealistic honor
student who refuses to "play it safe" in a school system that clearly discriminates
against Chicanos, instead banding with a group of activists to coordinate a multi-
school walkout of students. Mentored by her charismatic teacher Sal Castro
(Michael Peña), Paula learns that sometimes the price for progress is
high -- but it's ultimately worth paying.
