City of Dreams

This movie continues to fight for the real issue of child slavery. A real issue that cannot fade into the background of our everyday lives. It is tastefully done while at the same time it doesn't minimize the seriousness of this topic. The actors are extremely well cast. The filmmakers have made a film about a topic that is not glamorous but needs to be heard. This is not a movie that will leave you feeling excited and happy. But that's not its point. But this absolutely is a must see film and more importantly, a film that deserves and needs to have its message heard long after leaving the theatre.

After watching this film, all I wanted to do was bring Jesus back home with me and give him the life he deserves. Anyone that watches this movie will feel the same. The subject matter in the film is hard to watch, but you have to make yourself informed. I think that more than ever we have to come together and figure out a way to help these helpless kids. Imagine if a younger individual that you know in your life was subjected to trafficking. It would be life altering. Think about all of the parents around the world who have lost their kids to this industry. We need to support them as well. I would recommend everyone watch this film.

If you find yourself at this film, you know what you've bargained for. This is a tough watch. Young motherless Mexican boy Jesus (Ari Lopez) has dreams of a soccer star life. But of course he's mired in the worst poverty imaginable. He gets a dubious chance to attend an LA soccer camp, which Dad eagerly signs off on. Before you know it, he's sold off into a windowless sweatshop sewing for his life. The going rate for kids is $10K and up. A potential girlfriend is sold off into child sex slavery. Another kid arrives with the soccer camp pamphlet and Jesus loses it. Of course some sort of escape is in the works. We then meet Officer Stevens (Jason Patric). He strays from the LAPD MO and gets his just desserts. But a happy ending is coming, or at least as happy as one can expect under the circumstances. Patric is the biggest name in the film. He's had a decent enough career, but nothing notable in over thirty years. This film does have flashy producers: Tony Robbins, Luis Fonsi, Yalitza Aparicio, Linda Perry, Luis Mandoki, Enrique Santos, Thomas Jane and more. The director's father served in a sweatshop, so he has skin in the game.

This is a labor of love to focus attention on the issues of child labor and sex trafficking, kidnapping, etc. The last third of the film really picks up the pace and is riveting to watch. Patric is the white savior who makes everything marginally better. We assume that Jesus is better because of the epilogue, which I will not spoil. This is not a great film, but not a bad one either.

I'm lucky to have grown up with a certain ignorance.. liked most people in the world we are not enough aware of the suffering of others. Safe from the horrors that other people endure i can buy my clothing at the cheapest price. But it's not that I'm truly unaware - it's what we Dutch call 'far from my bed'.. these things are so far away from my day to day live that my subconscious chooses to ignore that horror.

Therefore i thank the makers of this movie, it was very impressive.

The storytelling was very good, camerawork did add to that. The acting of all the characters and dept off their roles were very well played out. It shows that there are only victims - all having their dreams crushed.

A movie the world needs to see.

I'm tempted to say that this film should win an Oscar. It is one of those films that will leave a lasting impact on you. I was I'll informed about trafficking in the U. S. When the film was over and the credits were rolling, my whole perspective changed. For the first time in my life I had to pay attention to child trafficking and stop being ignorant. This is one of those films that makes you think and realize how big this problem is.

Overall, it is a beautiful film that demonstrates the human ability to be resilient in the face of adversity at its worst. If you are looking for a place to watch this film, I watched it on Amazon the other day.