Watch Maquilapolis: City of Factories

Maquilapolis: City of Factories is a documentary film produced in 2006 that explores the lives of the workers who labor in the maquiladoras or factories in Tijuana, Mexico. The film was co-directed by Vicky Funari and Sergio De La Torre and was a recipient of several awards. The film focuses on the lives of Carmen Durán and Lourdes Luján, two women who have worked in the factories for many years. Through their experiences, the film depicts the harsh realities of life in Tijuana, where people, in search of better economic opportunities, come to work in factories that manufacture products for the U.S. market.

The film portrays how the people of Tijuana, especially women, are stripped of their labor rights by multinational corporations, causing them to work in inhumane conditions. The women in these factories, in particular, are given work that is low-paying, tedious, and often hazardous. The film shows how the factories are situated in areas that are surrounded by toxic waste and pollution which pose significant health risks to the workers and the people living nearby.

Through their own experiences, Carmen and Lourdes, along with other workers interviewed in the film, share how they have had to deal with their own health problems caused by working in the factories. They talk about how the companies responsible for the factories do not take responsibility for their employees' health and well-being, and how getting medical treatment is often expensive and difficult to access.

The film also delves into the broader consequences of the maquiladora industry. The cheap labor provided by these factories has been beneficial to the U.S. economy, drawing companies in to take advantage of cheap labor costs. As a result of this, many workers who work in the factories face serious labor abuses that they are unable to fight against due to their vulnerability and lack of resources.

Moreover, the documentary also shows the problems that the communities surrounding the factories face, including polluted air and water that result in an increase in health issues like asthma and cancer. The film also points out the consequences of the migration of young people to work in these factories, resulting in the jeopardization of education and the quality of life of the communities they come from.

Despite the bleak picture that the documentary presents, it also depicts the resilience of the people of Tijuana. The women of these communities are shown coming together to fight against pollution and labor abuses, declaring that "they are not going to be intimidated." The film also highlights grassroots movements and how they seek to empower communities.

The cinematic techniques used in the film help to create both empathy and anger in the audience. The use of close-ups and point-of-view shots help to convey the physical struggles and pain that the workers experience. Meanwhile, the use of wide-angle shots helps to show the devastation that corporate greed has resulted in.

Maquilapolis: City of Factories is an eye-opening film that reveals the devastating human toll of cheap manufacturing that we, as consumers, have come to rely on. By contrasting the cheap products we consume with the human needs they represent, the film offers a stark critique of capitalist exploitation. Throughout the film, the people of Tijuana are shown as resilient, courageous, and committed to achieving a better future despite facing the most challenging circumstances. The film serves as both a call to action and an education for those who consume the products manufactured in these factories. Overall, the film is a powerful and thought-provoking work that seeks to create much-needed change.

Maquilapolis: City of Factories is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.