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City of Dreams

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for City of Dreams R 2024 1h 36m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 100+ Verified Ratings
Inspired by true events, City of Dreams follows Jesús, a young Mexican boy whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he's trafficked across the border and sold to a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles. Thrust into a world of exploitation and despair, he's forced to adhere to the grueling work schedule dictated by El Jefe, a boss who promises freedom for those who complete their quotas. Despite Jesús' hellish existence, he finds solace in Elena, a girl who was similarly betrayed and sold into slavery. When she goes missing and another co-worker Carlitos is severely beaten, Jesús realizes that the only way to save himself and the others is to fight back, even if it costs him his life.
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City of Dreams

Critics Reviews

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Monica Castillo RogerEbert.com 09/02/2024
0/4
If the purpose of this movie is to raise awareness but not do anything, mission accomplished. Go to Full Review Carlos Aguilar Variety 08/30/2024
Ramchandani’s baffling screenplay contains the most obvious, stock archetypes of people recurrent in Hollywood’s uninteresting depictions of Latino communities. Go to Full Review Mark Hanson Slant Magazine 08/26/2024
.5/4
The film resembles less a realistic peek into the modern slavery of immigrants in America as it does grist for the torture porn mill. Go to Full Review Erik Reeds Spectrum Culture 11/13/2024
Like with its spiritual predecessor in Sound of Freedom, the flaw is not in its highlighting of an incredibly pressing issue, but rather the puerile view it seems to take regarding its nature. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 10/08/2024
C
Never passes the credibility test. Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Common Sense Media 10/04/2024
3/5
Tackling horrific subject matter, this movie manages to avoid being too cumbersome or preachy, focusing instead on its movements and rhythms and its likable, sympathetic lead character. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Autumn M 09/20/2024 Sometimes we have to stop and take a moment to reevaluate our contribution to certain issues. I feel like after watching this movie I'm going to try and be more conscious about where I buy my clothes. See more Quentin C 09/20/2024 I feel like I have become more knowledgable about child labor trafficking after watching this film. I would definitely suggest this movie to anybody who wants to inform themselves about this issue. See more Francisco P 09/20/2024 Beautiful filmmaking and an inspiring story. See more Ayla H 09/20/2024 A film like City of Dreams is both haunting and inspiring. It shows us a world that many people are unaware of, while this film is intense, watching Jesus, played by Ari Lopez, push through and find his way out of the sweatshop is inspiring. See more Alex M 09/19/2024 This film will touch you. It's a great example of what the human spirit can overcome. I enjoyed the film. See more Blakely G 09/19/2024 A gripping film that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. See more Read all reviews
City of Dreams

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Cast & Crew

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Mohit Ramchandani

Director

Ari Lopez

Jesús

Renata Vaca

Helena

Alfredo Castro

El Jefe

Paulina Gaitán

Actor

Jason Patric

Stevens

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City of Dreams

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City of Dreams

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Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by true events, City of Dreams follows Jesús, a young Mexican boy whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he's trafficked across the border and sold to a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles. Thrust into a world of exploitation and despair, he's forced to adhere to the grueling work schedule dictated by El Jefe, a boss who promises freedom for those who complete their quotas. Despite Jesús' hellish existence, he finds solace in Elena, a girl who was similarly betrayed and sold into slavery. When she goes missing and another co-worker Carlitos is severely beaten, Jesús realizes that the only way to save himself and the others is to fight back, even if it costs him his life.
Director
Mohit Ramchandani
Producer
Sean Wolfington, Mohit Ramchandani, Matt Diezel, Jon Graham, Rufus Parker
Screenwriter
Mohit Ramchandani
Distributor
Roadside Attractions
Production Co
P2 Films, Mogul Productions
Rating
R (Strong Violence|Partial Nudity|Bloody Images|Language|Child Abuse|Some Sexual Material)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 30, 2024, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.7M
Runtime
1h 36m
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