The film PEDRO is a combination of documentary and cinematic drama, and as such it could have been an awkward pastiche, an attempt to honor the memory of a brave young man who courageously faced classrooms of children and many different public forums as a man living with HIV, offering the general public the opportunity to learn about the disease in hopes of preventing its spread. Instead what happens is this film as written by Dustin Lance Black after a story by Paris Barclay and as directed with sensitive taste by Nick Oceano is a completely satisfying drama that just happens to add film clips form the well-known life of Pedro Zamora to enhance the dignity of this story.
After a rather startling opening sequence the film begins in Cuba as families lined up to cross to America: among those families was the Zamora mother (Teresa Hernández), father (Anibal O. Lleras) and only three of their children, including young Pedro and Mily. They settle in Miami where Pedro grows up remembering his past in Cuba and concentrating on his world of fantasy with his beloved mother. Pedro matures to a teenager (Alex Loynaz), a handsome and affable young lad whose sexual preference is men. At the tender age of 17 he is found to be HIV positive and his sister Mily (Justina Machado) pledges to stay by his side through all of his trials. Pedro is encouraged by various people to come out about his situation and indeed he does, flying to San Francisco to be on the Real People reality show. There he makes friends with his fellow 'roommates' (especially Judd/ Hale Appleman and Pam/ Jenn Liu). On the show, in front of the public television audience he can be himself - a normal young guy who happens to have AIDS. He meets Sean Sasser (DaJuan Johnson) and they eventually marry on the television series. Pedro becomes a very popular speaker and advocate for AIDS prevention. Once the series is over Pedro becomes ill and goes from a New York hospital to his home in Miami, diagnosed with an incurable manifestation of his disease. The manner in which Pedro and his family cope with all aspects of Pedro's life closes the film.
Alex Loynaz is excellent as Pedro, if not the magnetic personality of his true counterpart, and his scenes with Justina Machado are particularly profound and deeply touching. The entire cast is well selected and offers different insights to the life of Pedro Zamora. There won't be a dry eye after watching this tender film. It is well worth spending time getting to know another unsung hero. Grady Harp
