city of dreams: movie review
For an average movie viewer, Hollywood movies are the movies filled with Action, Romance, Bromance, Spy Thriller like Bond, Bourne, Sci-fi , Space – Galaxy Thrillers, Fantasy , Extravaganza – Hitech / VFX/ Visuals.
However there is also another genre of emotional drama which is close to the heart.
One such gem of the movie is ‘ City of Dreams’.
A Heart Wrenching Movie about the Child Labour – Human Trafficking that too depicted in the land of Uncle Sam , the No-1 Dream nation of billions across the world.
The story is about a 12 year old mute Mexican kid – Jesus aspiring to become a soccer player, sold by his own father to a Human trafficking mafia under the disguise of an American Broker
Jesus whose dream is to play soccer in a fully packed huge stadium, moves to Los Angeles along with the broker aspiring to be a soccer player coached in one of the premier coaching centres – only to be sold to a sweatshop in downtown as a child labourer similar to fateful multiple kids ending up in this place.
They are subjected to rigorous regime of sewing – 18 hours a day. The survival hinges on enduring grueling work schedules and navigating the brutality of his captors.
Jesus’s endless trails of escape attempts ends only in failure – resulting in he being subjected to third degree torture. But the relentless Jesus never gives up his escape attempts pursuing his dream of soccer.
Will he escape ?
Will his dream come true?
Ari Lopez entralls with his portrayal of young Jesus – be it his carefree rural life or his days of child labour, relentless pursuit to escape, his anguish during slavery, his soccer dreams – he brings life to his character.
He is ably supported by the powerful El Jefe (Alfredo Castro), alongside fellow victims including the resilient Elena (Renata Vaca) and Carlitos (Golden Globe Nominee Diego Calva),
Paulina Gaitán, Jason Patric as Stevens,
Samm Levine as Nazarian and remaining cast .
One gets moved to tears when the lady sergeant finally saves Jesus.
Lisa Gerrard’s background score elevates the movie – especially the score during the escape attempts of Jesus.
When one talks about the USA, we always imagine the mighty FBI, Powerful cops, Strong Judiciary System, the Dream Nation.
This Mighty Holy image is taken to cleaners by Director Mohit Ramchandani. His adaption of this film inspired by true incidents – shows the murky, morbid, heartless and the ruthless dark side of Human trafficking / Child labour prevailing in United States.
The Statistics displayed before the end credits shakes the mind of viewers on this dark world.
Inspired by true events, this “City of Dreams” is an inspiring story about a boy’s courageous battle to free himself and others from the brutal grasp of slavery.
In a word – This entertainer is the real emotional extravaganza on-screen!
Rating: 4.6 / 5
review by: Laxman M D
