The story dramatically unfolds with a border crossing. The coyotes successfully complete the crossing with three different families. The family members on this side of the border meet the coyotes with the remainder of the fee for delivering their loved ones. However, Maya’s sister did not have the balance due and the coyote took Maya away. The two coyotes actually flip a coin to see who gets to keep her. Maya was cunning and escapes the grasp of the coyote and is reunited with her sister and her sister’s family. Bread and Roses was a surprise because a lot of the film’s dialogue was in Spanish. However, I think that the Spanish and English combination of dialogue made the film more interesting and believable. The combination of both languages could actually be how a bilingual person may interact in their daily life as they interact with family members, at work and other English and non- English speaking persons. Maya’s sister finds her a job in a bar but Maya does not stay because the men were touching and grabbing her. Maya is hired on at her sister’s janitorial job. The manager gives her a job in exchange for her first month’s salary. This is only one of the manager’s offenses. There are others in the film.
A union organizer comes to the building where they work and speaks to the employees about organizing for more pay, health benefits and other worker rights. Most of the workers are afraid because they have seen people fired without cause. Maya is very interested and encourages the other worker’s to listen and eventually participate in work actions. The manager uses coercion to determine who is involved with the meetings. He dismisses several of the employees and bring in a new crew. Maya is the main character that drives the plot and she falls for the white union organizer. Maya does not understand why her sister is not participating especially since her family is in desperate need of health care. The answer is eventually revealed. In addition to her reasons for not participating in the work actions, Maya’s sister eventually reveals the real sacrifices she has made in coming to America and the sacrifices she has made for her family in Mexico. Maya is shocked by the reveal and makes a fatal mistake that puts her in deportation danger.
This film has a sense of realness as there are subtle instances that support the story such as the janitorial workforce. Though the employees are primarily immigrants, there are also black employees which are realistically part of this low- wage sector.
There are some revealing moments and the viewer is exposed to the tragic events of an immigrant’s life. Those moments include the border crossing with coyotes, the unfair work practices that non- unionized employees experience such as low wages and lack of health care. These employees also experience public humiliation brought on by the employer including the fear of losing their job. Also mentioned is how hard some immigrants work and send all their money back home. All of these moments and more are brought out in this film.
This film reminds me of Real Women Have Curves because it is the reversal of the stereotypical immigrant story. The protagonist is not helpless or a sex symbol. She is resourceful and an activist for her rights and the rights of others. However, as stated in the article, Who exactly is Living La Vida Loca? The Legal and Political Consequences of Latino/Latina Ethnic and Racial Stereotypes in Film and Other Media, “the white man rises to power” in this instance he is the union organizer and the Latina protagonist falls in love with him.
The film you chose seems very interesting. I am the son of a Mexican immigrant and I know the hardships my parents have had to endure. Crossing the border is a traumatizing experience and the trauma does not end there. Many employers depend on undocumented labor (as true than as now) and they know just how fragile their status is. Many undocumented immigrants put up with a lot in this country to ensure that they stay in this country. Deportation is a very real threat that can potentially change a persons life forever. It seems that this film captures the realness of deportation and the fragility of an illegal existence.
Like Octavio, both my parents were illegal immigrants from Mexico. Immigrants endure abuse and many will work in horrendous conditions and sacrifice their own dignity in order to provide for their families. I remember overhearing my father tell my mother of the derogatory comments his white boss would make about Latinos. Yet he stayed and went to work everyday until the Company closed. Your review is mysterious and intriguing. You provided enough detail that sparked my interest in Maya and her family but you don’t ruin the movie. Kudos to you! Can I borrow your copy? Just kidding. Is it on Netflix?
Nice blog! Unfortunately, people like Maya who make a difference in other people’s lives sometimes get the short end of the stick. Although she fought for the union she jeopardized her own chance at freedom and a better life in America. Those are the ones that we all need to be thankful for. Looking back in history there’s always one that stands for rights when other are shy.
Your film review of Bread and Roses gave a clear and thorough synopsis of the film. You really draw in the reader from the start. My grandmother was also an immigrant that came to America from Shanghai. She almost also got deported. There is nothing to describe what illegal immigrants have to go through to get to the U.S., and then they are met with poor wage jobs, and mistreatment. You really emphasized that in your film review, and after reading your review I will be putting this on my netflix list. I have never heard of this movie until today, and your review prompted me to want to watch it. You gave just enough information with out ruining the ending.
I remember watching this and thinking what a good interpretation it was of immigrant life. It was almost discouraging to see the union member fighting so hard for things that these workers absolutely deserve but he couldn’t get the numbers in people. Then, with the sister’s heartbreaking story you understand why it is so hard to organize and get people to step up. They face a struggle everyday to stay here and any further risks can jeopardize their family. Even right now, this fight is so strong in LA. How do you unionize a group that can not survive if they miss even a week of work? The strong moments you pointed out are what really make this film impactful.
Octavio,
You are absolutely right. The deportation issue is thoroughly covered and the end of the film is unexpected. This film is powerful because the portrayal of the immigrant is not helpless, she is resourceful and brave.
The movie is not on Netflix. But you are welcome to my copy. I will try to remember to bring it on Wednesday. This movie shows the sacrifice made to keep employment.
Unionizing a group cannot be an easy task especially knowing that there will be some suffering. but I think the group has to realize the benefit of the sacrifice. I think that you have to be up front about the consequences of work actions and ultimately, each person has to decide individually if the sacrifice is worth it.
Octavio, You certainly appear to have covered all of the inhumane experiences that the protagonist Maya had to endure from the crossing of the borders with a coyote to having to take unsavory jobs to taking jobs where you are over worked and underpaid. You mentioned the realism of this movie, I agree. Many of our cleaners/janitorial staff as well as our factory workers are underpaid and if they are unfortunate to not be here legally they are threatened with deportation. In the movie the manager lays off staff and just replaces them after intimidating them. Unfortunately a common thread in many of the movies we have viewed, the Latina/o is saved by the white man/women and he/she falls in love with him. I believe that Bread and Roses is a movie that I will try to see.