Bread and Roses

views updated

Bread and Roses ★★ 2000 (R)

Typical Loach political polemic—this time about union organizing of janitors (many of them illegals) in Los Angeles. Maya (Padilla) is an illegal immigrant from Mexico who's working for an office cleaning company. She meets union organizer Sam (Brody) who convinces Maya to join with him, even though she not only risks her job but deportation. Things go from bad to worse for Maya but Loach never takes the easy road and his characters are flawed human beings rather than mere symbols. English and Spanish with subtitles. 106m/C VHS, DVD . GB Adrien Brody, Elpidia Carrillo, Pilar Padilla, George Lopez, Jack McGee, Alonso Chavez; D: Ken Loach; W: Paul Laverty; C: Barry Ackroyd; M: George Fenton.