Bread and Roses

2000·110'

★ 6.3

Letterboxd TMDB #37691

The Balance of Power Is About to Change

Maya is a quick-witted young woman who comes over the Mexican border without papers and makes her way to the LA home of her older sister Rosa. Rosa gets Maya a job as a janitor: a non-union janitorial service has the contract, the foul-mouthed supervisor can fire workers on a whim, and the service-workers' union has assigned organizer Sam Shapiro to bring its "justice for janitors" campaign to the building. Sam finds Maya a willing listener, she's also attracted to him. Rosa resists, she has an ailing husband to consider. The workers try for public support; management intimidates workers to divide and conquer. Rosa and Maya as well as workers and management may be set to collide.

Cast

Pilar Padilla Maya

Adrien Brody Sam Shapiro

Jack McGee Bert

Monica Rivas Simona

Frankie Davila Luis

Lillian Hurst Anna

Maria Orellana Berta

Melody Garrett Cynthia

Elpidia Carrillo Rosa

George López Perez

Rosa Ayala Janitor

Mayron Payes Ben