Film Series on Latino Immigrant Labor

(More information to come.)

I want to mark your calendar for the weekend of April 27-28.

Cine Accion and Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts is starting a new tradition of jointly sponsoring a exciting new film series featuring the best in Latino Cinema at MCCLA's intimate theater.

This new partnership will host it first film series focused on Immigrant Labor in the United States. Although there will be some of the finest documentaries presented, there will also be dramatic feature films on the same theme.

Classic documentaries such as the award-winning FIGHT IN THE FIELDS: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworker Struggle. This film is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and  Ray Telles and Rick Tejada-Flores, the writers/directors of this historic film have been invited to tell about the making of the film.

Other documentaries will include the 1954 classic SALT OF THE EARTH, the only film ever to be banned in the U.S. because of its subject matter and blacklisted writer and director. Chicano miners and their wives fight for justice and equality.

Three recent documentaries include Pepe Urquio's popular FRUIT OF LABOR about a uncommon man and his determination to become his own businessman in Oakland's Fruitvale District. Pepe is being invited to speak and may bring the star of the film with him.

A new documentary that the New York Times called "poetry on film".... Mark Becker's ROMANTICO about the music and life of a struggling musician that works the bars of the Mission District. The film portrays the humanity and dignity of the undocumented immigrant underscored by some of  Mexican music's most poignant songs. A beautiful film. Plans are being made to bring Mark Becker to the screening

Finally, there is THE SHORT LIFE OF JOSE ANTONIO GUTTIEREZ, a Sundance film festival audience winner about a young immigrant from Guatamala who makes it to the U.S., struggles to survive and decides to join the U.S. military. He becomes the first "American" to die in the war in Iraq. This is his story.

These filmmakers are being invited to talk about their films and we want to be the first to personally invite you, your friends, colleagues and especially your students to see their films, listen to their stories and ask questions of these exceptionally talented people.

In addition, some great feature films are on tap as well. The great British director Ken Loach's BREAD AND ROSES will be screened starring Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody. George Lopez, the comedian is featured in a dramatic role. The film takes place during the huge Janitors for Justice strike in the downtown highrises in Los Angeles. The story focuses on two sisters and a union organizer to bring fair wages to the forgotten janitors. Think of a Latino version of NORMA RAE...the film that got an oscar for Sally Fields.

Finally, a rare gem from the land of film noir, the 1948 BORDER INCIDENT starring Ricardo Montalban as a Mexican government agent who goes undercover as a undocumented farmworker to bust a greedy and callous American landowner and his thugs who abuse and murder farmworkers. A thriller with great cinematography. Don't miss it.

That is the line-up. Tickets will probably be no more than $5 a screening with discounts for students.

Please come and see some truly wonderful films and support CINE ACCION's new partnership with MCCLA. We need your support now more than ever!!