Feature: Angelfish, a New York Love Story Written and Directed by Peter Lee.

Occhi Magazine had the privilege of attending the November premiere of Angelfish, a New York love story written and directed by Peter Lee. The red carpet premiere took place at United Palace, located in the heart of the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.

Angelfish is a beautifully shot cinematic gem that explores the romance between two Bronx natives from two different worlds, in the summer of 1993. Brendan (Jimi Stanton) is a troubled hard-working high school dropout, with a difficult home life. Eva (Princess Nokia) is a promising daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants, who is about to start college in the fall, but secretly has other aspirations that go against her mother’s wishes. Sparks fly when the two meet at the deli where Brendan is working. They begin to navigate their thriving romance while attempting to balance the situations in their home lives. Brendan struggles to keep his younger brother out of the streets, as his mother self-medicates from bar to bar, bringing home random men to their apartment.

Eva, shares the responsibility of caring for her special-needs brother, with an overbearing mother whose expectations leave no room for her daughter’s dreams of becoming an actress. Stanton gives a strong performance, as the vulnerable protector, willing to give in to his feelings, despite his bleak reality. Princess Nokia’s Eva is refreshingly transparent, portraying the guarded dreamer, restrained by the responsibilities to her family. The film thrives in its raw cinematography, capturing the aesthetics of various Bronx neighborhoods in the early 90s. Definitely worth the watch, this 96-minute gem could have taken place today, but reminds us of a New York before gentrification.

The film is available on iTunes, Amazon, Fandango Now, Vudu and Xbox.

(Princess Nokia Photo by Mark Vodery)

About Author

Mark Vodery

Mark Vodery was a Managing Editor of Occhi Magazine. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, he studied Mass Communications at West Chester University. As an experienced session vocalist, he has toured the world and had several original works featured in film and television. Mark has been involved with several New York City projects including Feel the Music! and Make Music New York. An avid music lover, he takes pride in his extensive vinyl collection and spends his free time helping to facilitate service projects that benefit at-risk youth, through artistic philanthropy. Mark is based in New York and resides in New Jersey with his lovely wife and two daughters.

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