Cesar
Chavez (2014/Lionsgate Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: A- Extras: C Film: B-
Cesar
Chavez, a leader, pacifist, and revolutionary. Based on a true story
on how he spoke out against Southern California farmers about social
injustice and discrimination towards the farm workers of California.
This new dramatic motion picture portrays how he lead and organized a
peaceful protest, sit in and boycott against the farmers who paid
substandard wages, no breaks, bathroom or even benefits. Diego
Luna's film Cesar Chavez (2014) tries to tell this story, if
not totally successful in the process.
Chavez
(Michael Pena) grew up working for white Southern American farmers,
and spoke out against their treatment to the workers who worked their
fields. Cattle was treated better, whole families are forced to
work, children unable to get an education. While the law was to
arrest anyone committing violence they turned a blind eye to acts of
violence, intimidation, even murder caused by the farmers. Chavez
brought awareness to the world leading a peaceful protest, strike and
boycott against those in power. Even when the US government promised
aid to the farmers to sell overseas, Chavez continued his boycott and
even fasted until change came.
Cesar
Chavez was like a Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi rolled into one.
If it wasn't for this film I wouldn't have even of known of him; it
is amazing how American schools can teach history about it's own
freedom and revolution but somehow ignore it's own oppression,
ignorance, and discrimination towards other people and races. How
human rights and fair treatment applied only to white Americans in
the past? The question people now must ask themselves is ...has
America changed much since then? America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson,
John Malkovich, Wes Bentley, Gabriel Mann and Julian Sands also star.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is a bit lacking and is
an HD shoot, but the lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 mix is
very well recorded and helps make up for the image's shortcomings as
you watch. Extras include a Making of Cesar Chavez featurette
and digital download.
-
Ricky Chiang
