Film: Zoot Suit

Yale Film Archive & Beinecke Library: Viva Valdez Film Series Zoot Suit (Luis Valdez, 1981, DCP, 103 mins) History and legend collide in Valdez’s vibrant adaptation of his groundbreaking stage play, inspired by the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the Zoot Suit Riots of 1940s Los Angeles. As a young Mexican American man (Daniel Valdez) fights for justice in a system stacked against him, the flamboyant spirit El Pachuco (Edward James Olmos) guides him through memory, fantasy, and hard truths with wit, swagger, and style. Blending political theater and courtroom drama, Zoot Suit is a bold celebration of Chicano identity and resistance. Introduction by Chantal Rodriguez. The Viva Valdez series explores the life and work of filmmaker Luis Valdez, and is co-presented by the Yale Film Archive and the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Yale Film Archive screenings are always free and open to the public. See the full film schedule here.