When we hear about human trafficking, our minds often turn to sex trafficking. Or at least mine does. However, City of Dreams sheds light on a grim but lesser-known aspect of human exploitation: child labor trafficking. Inspired by a true story, City of Dreams chronicles the harrowing and gruesome journey of Jesús, a Mexican boy whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he’s smuggled across the border and sold to a sweatshop in downtown Los Angeles. At the LA premiere last night, the cast and crew shared their thoughts on the film’s brutal but impactful message.
Ari Lopez, who plays Jesús, flexes his acting talents with minimal dialogue, relying on emotion and expression that’s nothing short of awards-worthy. Reflecting on the six-year journey from shooting to premiere, Lopez said, “At the time when we first shot, I was kind of looking at it like a kid, you know, just shooting. Then, after shooting the movie and doing my research, it’s so sad knowing that this is going on, and I’m so glad to be a part of this movie.” Lopez hopes the film opens viewers’ eyes: “I hope people enjoy the movie, but I hope they leave the theater with their eyes open… knowing there’s something we can do. It’s all about doing what you can wherever you are.”
I also caught up with writer-director Mohit Ramchandani, who reflected on the change in his understanding of labor trafficking since filming began six years ago: “When I started, I only knew about one case, and as time has gone on, there are hundreds of thousands of cases. It’s blown my mind.” He expressed that his intent with the gruesomeness is that he wants audiences to leave the theater “so inflamed and angry that they have no choice but to act.”
Executive producer Mira Sorvino, who has dedicated much of her career to combating human trafficking through her advocacy with the UN, was drawn to City of Dreams because it highlights labor trafficking—an issue often overshadowed by sex trafficking. Sorvino, who has starred in four films centered around sex trafficking, said she appreciated how City of Dreams shifts the focus to the exploitation of children and adults in forced labor. “One-third of the 50 million people living in slavery today are children, and about half of those are labor trafficking victims,” she noted.
Though the film is “heartbreaking,” Sorvino insists it carries a message of hope and a challenge for viewers to get involved. Her call to action is clear: “I want people to actively investigate where their clothing and cheap goods come from. I want them to demand corporations vet the slave labor in their supply chains.” Sorvino also emphasized the need for police forces to adopt a victim-centric, trauma-informed approach when identifying trafficking victims. She concluded by pointing out a chilling reality: “There are more slaves now than at any time in human history.”
City of Dreams is now playing in theaters.
