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Lowriders Director Ricardo de Montreuil Reveals Secrets Behind the Film

"Because of schedules, Demián and Theo didn't get a chance to meet before the actual production date," he reveals

By Diana Marti May 16, 2017 9:06 PMTags
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Lowriders isn't just a movie for car lovers. It touches on the concept of the American Dream, family and so much more.  

We sat with the film's director Ricardo de Montreuil, and he opened up about his take on Lowriders and some of the secrets behind its creation. 

The family drama is set against the car culture of East Los Angeles, and it tells a very authentic story about how this car club world is so much more than just a hobby. As the filmmaker explains, they found guidance in Los Angeles' very own. 

"Besides that many of the department heads were Latinos or connected to the culture, Estevan Oriol and Mister Cartoon, who are executive producers on the film were our filters. Estevan and Cartoon not only brought and selected all cars in the film, but they also invited several artists from East LA to create all tattoos, graffiti, and murals and airbrush art that you see in the movie," Montreuil tells E! News. "It was a great experience working with such talented and skilled artists, and they helped us ensure that we were making a film that accurately depicts the lowriding culture."

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The Peruvian director said that working with Eva Longoria and Demián Bichir was nothing short of phenomenal. 

"It was an amazing experience to work with Demián and Eva. Both were very passionate about this story," he says. "They both wanted to make sure we did justice to the lowriding culture by making a film that portrays the families that love and live for this beautiful Mexican-American artform."

"I think a lot of people don't understand the lowriding community," the actress told E! NewsMarc Malkin. "The lowriding community is about family, and culture and legacy and tradition. It's a beautiful, beautiful art form and I hope people walk away from the movie understanding, 'Oh, that's what the culture means.'"

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This movie has many moments of confrontation between family, which is full of emotion and not always the easiest scene to film. Montreuil says that there is a particular take that is hard to capture but luckily the odds worked in their favor. 

"The scene when Ghost confronts Miguel. Because of schedules Demián and Theo didn't get a chance to meet before the actual production date. They practically met minutes before we started shooting, which completely worked to our advantage since it's the second time that the characters see each other after eight years," he explains. "You can feel the distance. A father and son that can't look at each other in the eyes. It was complicated trying to nail the correct emotional tone, but I believe that the circumstances helped us create a very compelling and emotional scene." 

Montreuil explains that the movie has an underlining that not many may see at first when we asked him what his favorite aspect of the film is?

"Danny's journey in the movie, which I believe is a universal coming-of-age theme. It is that moment in your life when you realize that your most valuable possession is your culture, your heritage, and your family," he said. "That moment when you realize that your background is what makes you who you are, that moment when you stop pretending to be someone else to fit in and you become proud of where you come from."