Made in L.A.

Watch Made in L.A.

  • NR
  • 2007
  • 1 hr 9 min
  • 7.3  (73)

Made in L.A. is a 2007 documentary film directed by Almudena Carracedo and produced by Robert Bahar. The movie revolves around the struggles and journey of three Latina immigrants from Los Angeles who work in garment factories. They are Maura, Lupe, and María. Together, they combine forces to form their own labor union, and they embark on a five-year quest to improve their working conditions, and ultimately bring justice and equality in their workplace.

The film is highly compelling without employing dramatic or manipulative effects. Instead, it captures the passion of the women as they fight for the rights of the many low-income workers who go unnoticed, underpaid, and exploited. The movie is not only a portrait of the three women protagonists, but it is also a political, social, and economic study of the harsh realities of working-class immigrant communities.

Throughout the documentary, the women candidly share their personal journeys as immigrants in the United States, their struggles with English as a second language, and their experiences working in the garment industry. The movie showcases their strength, resilience, and commitment in the face of adversity. A significant part of the documentary also focuses on their difficulties with understanding worker's rights, labor laws, and how the system works in general.

The film takes the audience to the heart of the Sweatshop District of Los Angeles, which houses hundreds of garment factories. The workers in these factories, mostly immigrants, work long hours under extreme conditions for very low pay. Made in L.A. exposes the ubiquitous mistreatment of employees and exploitation of their labour. It puts forth the notion that advocacy for fair working conditions should come from the workers themselves.

The documentary is structured through cohesive storytelling, edited in a way that successfully builds the tension throughout the film. The first turning point in the documentary happens when the rebellion of the three women against their employer’s injustice leads to an injury in the workplace. The second turning point is when they join forces with the Garment Workers Center to learn more about their rights as employees.

The narrative is linear, and the pacing is balanced, with just the right amount of drama and emotional heft that keeps the audience engaged. The reshuffling of chronological events is done in a subtle manner, and the transitions flow coherently throughout the movie.

Carracedo and Bahar successfully capture the essence of the three women, their uniqueness, individual strengths, and weaknesses. Each character is relatable, and this makes the documentary more authentic and engaging. The movie also showcases the amazing bond between the three. They support one another throughout the journey and create a lasting friendship.

Apart from focusing on the struggles of the protagonists, the documentary raises awareness about the ongoing issues of workers’ rights and labor exploitation in America. Made in L.A. tactfully introduces the audience to the real people behind the fashion industry, and the hidden costs of cheap fashion production.

The film's production value is naturalistic, but it makes excellent use of archival footage, stills, and graphics to enhance the storytelling. The camera work is remarkable, with long shots that reveal the working conditions, emoting scenes, and other more intimate shots that make the audience feel like they are right there with the women during their struggles.

In conclusion, Made in L.A. is a remarkable film that effectively documents the lives of Maura, Lupe, and María. It highlights their journey to form the first unionized garment factory under the brand “NICE.” The documentary shows their struggles, their persistence, their triumphs, and the lessons learned along the way. The movie is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and empowering the working class. It is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in human rights or social justice issues.

Made in L.A. is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.

Description
Where to Watch Made in L.A.
Made in L.A. is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and YouTube VOD. Some platforms allow you to rent Made in L.A. for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2007
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    1 hr 9 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.3  (73)