Free Political Film Screenings Cinema Politica is a project organized by Montréal-based non-profit überculture, and comprises a network of several local film exhibition series across Canada, Europe and the USA.

Made in L.A

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Indonesia
Friday May 1, 2009
Screening begins 14h15
Venue: kineforum, Jl.Cikini Raya no.73 Jakarta Pusat

see details and schedule at kineforum.wordpress.com

First Film:Made in LA

Persistence equals power in a 3 year struggle for basic labor rights

Almudena Carracedo / USA / 2007 / 70 min

Made in L.A. is an Emmy award-winning feature documentary (70 min) that follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice.

Lupe Hernandez, a five-foot tall dynamo who learned survival skills at an early age, has been working in Los Angeles garment factories for over 15 years since she left Mexico City at age 17. Maura Colorado left her three children in the care of relatives in El Salvador while she sought work in L.A. to support them. She found that the low-paid work came with a high price - wretched conditions in the factories and an "undocumented" status that deprived her of seeing her children for over eighteen years. María Pineda came to Southern California from Mexico in hopes of a better life at 18, with an equally young husband. Twenty three years later, substandard working conditions, a meager salary and domestic abuse have left her struggling for her children's future and for her own human dignity.

These three women, along with other immigrant workers, come together at L.A.'s Garment Worker Center to take a stand for their rights. Against all odds, these seemingly defenseless workers launch a very public challenge (a lawsuit and a boycott) to one of the city's flagship clothiers, calling attention to the dark side of low-wage labor north of the U.S.-Mexico border and revealing the social fault lines of the new globalization.

As seen through the eyes of María, Maura, and Lupe, the workers' struggle for basic economic justice and personal dignity yields hope and growth, but it is also fraught with disappointments and dangers. As the campaign drags on through three long years, meetings at the Garment Worker Center become more contentious and the women undergo dramatic moments of conflict and discouragement. But then the story takes a surprising turn, and the three women find the strength and resources to continue their struggle.

For Lupe, Maura and María, the long campaign is a turning point from victimization to empowerment, and each makes life-changing decisions that they never could have envisioned. Overlooking the city of Hong Kong, where she has traveled after she's hired as an organizer, Lupe reflects on her journey: The more I learn, the lonelier I feel. Ignorance somehow protects you. But then I say, I've come this far, and nothing can take that away from me.

Trailer

Credits

A Film By | Una Película de
Almudena Carracedo
Robert Bahar

Directed by | Dirección
Almudena Carracedo

Produced by | Producción
Robert Bahar
Almudena Carracedo

Written by | Guión
Almudena Carracedo
Robert Bahar
Lisa Leeman

Cinematography by | Fotografía
Almudena Carracedo

Edited by | Edición
Lisa Leeman
Kim Roberts
Almudena Carracedo

Music by | Música
Joseph Julian Gonzalez

Awards & Festivals

2008 Emmy Award winner, Outstanding Continous Coverage of a News Story-Long Form
Henry Hampton Award for Excellence in Film and Digital Media, Council on Foundations, USA
Special Mention of the Jury, Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain
Best Documentary, Best Human Value Film, Mujeres en Direccion, Cuenca International Women Film Festival, Spain
SIGNIS Award, Voces contra el Silencio Film Festival, Mexico.
ESTELA Award, Nacional Asotiation of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), USA.
Special Mention of the Jury; Best Editing, Antlantidoc, Uruguay
Corky Gonzales Righteousness Award, Cine Sin Fin East L.A. Chicano Film Festival, USA
Imagen Award nominee: Best TV Documentary
Alma Award nominee: Best TV Documentary
Pare Lorentz Award nominee, International Documentary Association, USA
Witness Award nominee, Silverdocs, USA

Film site & Reviews

» official site

Second Film: The Art of Resistance

Political art and cultural resistance in post-2001 Argentina

Alexandra Guité / Canada / 2007 / 61 min / Spanish / English Subtitles

Argentina’s troubled history, culminating in the major crisis of 2001, has seen the rise of a wave of original artistic and cultural expression. The documentary The Art of Resistance introduces us to several creators and artist collectives who use artistic expression as a means to deliver powerful social statements, explore unbridled creativity, and participate actively in constructing a new reality.

The Art of Resistance is an inventive treatment of these artists’ responses to the critical situations they are living. Born in a climate of urgency, their creativity is without boundaries, their strategies constantly renewed. The 85-year-old visual artist León Ferrari launches a vigorous national debate by denouncing the Catholic Church’s dark underside, factories open their doors to artists who conceive performances among the workers, patients at a psychiatric asylum join together to form an artistic front and charismatic actor Julio Arrieta makes a movie about the extraterrestrial invasion of his shantytown.

The Art of Resistance is a penetrating portrait of the artistic and political methods of cultural resistance in Argentina. The film follows these inspiring and revolutionary characters as they struggle to meet the challenges of economic and cultural disintegration and critically examine proposed solutions to the problems of the day. It illustrates humanity’s profound capacity for creativity and resilience in the face of adversity. The spectator is invited to witness inspiring examples of this potential as they unfurl against the backdrop of Argentina’s ongoing crisis.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT:

I have always been attracted by the transformative potential of art, both on personal and social levels. That is why when visiting Buenos Aires during the eruption of the crisis in 2001, I was deeply touched by the country’s hard history and especially the passionate reaction of its people. Innovative and original responses abound.

In Argentina, artistic flame often goes hand in hand with political engagement. Direct action, political art and the deep alliance between the art world and social demands are both powerful and fascinating

To capture that vibrancy, we filmed more than 100 hours of footage of what was happening culturally and politically in the city. Needless to say it was intense. Charismatic people such as Julio Arrieta who carries out wild film projects in the shantytown and more renowned controversial artist León Ferrari gave a voice to this film.

The Art of Resistance has collected that inspiring creative spark. It shows not only how people struggle and reclaim their dignity but also how art can be used to that effect, be it on the streets, in cultural centers, factories or asylums.