Director Angel Manuel Soto on His High-Octane HBO Max Feature “Charm City Kings”

In some ways, it’s a story that director Angel Manuel Soto knows little about. But it’s also one he knows only too well. Centered around the urban dirt bike culture in Baltimore, Maryland, Charm City Kings, making its debut on HBO Max, is a raw, coming-of-age drama based in a culture where respect is earned through stunt riding.

Take the bikes out of the equation, and it is remarkably similar to how Soto felt growing up in Puerto Rico.