City of dreams (2023) by Mohit Ramchandani

“City of Dreams” is a 2023 drama thriller inspired by a true story. It chronicles the harrowing journey of Jesús, a young Mexican boy with aspirations of becoming a soccer star, whose life takes a dark turn when he is smuggled across the border and sold into forced labor in a Los Angeles sweatshop. The film highlights his courageous fight for freedom and survival in the face of brutal exploitation.

The film follows Jesús, a young boy from rural Mexico who dreams of playing for his local soccer team, Club Puebla. His father convinces him to leave home with the promise of training at a soccer camp in Los Angeles. However, upon arrival, Jesús discovers he has been betrayed and sold to a sweatshop operating out of a dilapidated mansion in downtown Los Angeles. He is thrust into a world of captivity, enduring grueling work schedules and the cruelty of his captors. The plot centers on Jesús’s resilience, his determination to escape, and his efforts to help others trapped in the same horrific situation.

Mohit Ramchandani, a veteran producer making his feature directorial debut, aimed to shed light on the realities of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, specifically focusing on the exploitation of child labor in sweatshops. He intended to create an impactful film based on true events to raise awareness about this critical issue, emphasizing that such atrocities occur even within the United States. Some reviews, however, suggest the director leaned towards a more conventional thriller approach, potentially diluting the urgency and depth of the subject matter.

• Human Trafficking and Modern-Day Slavery: The film’s central theme is the horrific reality of human trafficking, depicting how individuals, especially vulnerable children, are deceived, transported, and forced into labor against their will.

• Loss of Innocence and Exploitation of Dreams: Jesús’s dream of becoming a soccer star is brutally shattered, highlighting the exploitation of hopes and aspirations by traffickers for their own gain.

• Resilience and Courage: Despite facing extreme adversity and brutality, Jesús demonstrates remarkable resilience and courage in his fight for survival and freedom.

• Social Injustice and Inequality: The film implicitly critiques the societal structures and economic forces that allow such exploitation to persist, particularly targeting vulnerable immigrant communities.

• Hope and the Fight for Freedom: Even in the darkest of circumstances, the film offers a glimmer of hope through Jesús’s unwavering determination to escape and his efforts to liberate others.

• Powerful True Story: Being based on a true story lends significant weight and emotional impact to the film, potentially resonating deeply with audiences concerned about social justice.

• Strong Lead Performance: Reports suggest that the newcomer Ari Lopez delivers a mesmerizing performance as Jesús, which is crucial for the audience to connect with the character’s plight.

• Raising Awareness: The film’s focus on a critical global issue like human trafficking can be considered a success in itself, bringing attention to a problem often hidden from plain sight.

• Positive Initial Reception: The film garnered a perfect 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (with a limited number of reviews) and a high audience rating, indicating that it connected with initial viewers.

“City of Dreams” (2023) is a gripping drama thriller, based on a true story, about a young Mexican boy trafficked into a Los Angeles sweatshop and his courageous fight for freedom.

Awards and Nominations: 1 nomination, Hollywood Music In Media Awards 2024

The critical reception for “City of Dreams” (2023) is varied. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 100% critics score, although this is based on a limited number of reviews. However, on Metacritic, the film has a Metascore of 50 out of 100, based on 5 critic reviews, indicating “Mixed or Average reviews”.

Specific critical opinions include:

• Film Threat‘s review (score of 85/100 on Metacritic) states, “City of Dreams is not perfect, but it is extremely well crafted, and as such, I highly recommend it.”

• Movie Nation (score of 50/100 on Metacritic) highlights a positive aspect, mentioning that “Ramchandani delivers a dazzling third act chase, on foot, through L.A.’s sweatshop district,” but also notes the story was initially “static.”

• Conversely, Variety (score of 20/100 on Metacritic) criticizes the film’s writing, stating that “Ramchandani’s baffling screenplay contains the most obvious, stock archetypes of people recurrent in Hollywood’s uninteresting depictions of Latino communities… Yet, its dialogue, which ranges from the laughably stereotypical to the downright absurd in the context of a sweatshop, stands out as the most unforgivable affront.”   

• Slant Magazine (score of 12/100 on Metacritic) offers a harsh assessment, suggesting, “The film resembles less a realistic peek into the modern slavery of immigrants in America as it does grist for the torture porn mill.”   

• RogerEbert.com (score of 0/100 on Metacritic) views the film negatively, calling it “another advocacy film without answers, pretending that the mere act of bringing awareness to a problem solves it.”

In summary, while some critics appreciated the film’s intentions and aspects of its execution, others found significant flaws in its screenplay, dialogue, and portrayal of the sensitive subject matter.

User reviews on platforms like IMDb present a wide spectrum of opinions. One featured user review on IMDb gives the film a high rating of 9/10, praising the storytelling, camerawork, and the acting of all characters, concluding that it “shows that there are only victims – all having their dreams crushed. A movie the world needs to see.”

However, another IMDb user review expresses strong disappointment, giving it a 1/10 and describing it as having a “deep topic, horrible execution.” This review criticizes the film for being “cheesy and unrealistic,” with “terrible acting,” and for not accurately portraying the reality of the topic. The reviewer felt it was like “white Hollywood wanted to make Hallmark fans cry.”

On Metacritic, the user score for “City of Dreams” is 4.9 out of 10 based on 9 user ratings, which aligns with the mixed sentiment seen on IMDb, indicating a polarized audience reaction to the film. Some viewers found it impactful and important, while others were critical of its execution and portrayal.

Box Office: As of the latest information, “City of Dreams” (2023) has grossed $1,713,427 worldwide, with the entire amount coming from the US and Canadian box office. It had an opening weekend gross of $1,245,167.

The movie was filmed in Los Angeles, California, USA. This adds a layer of unsettling reality to the narrative, as it portrays modern slavery happening within the United States.

Information about the sales companies involved in “City of Dreams” was not found in the search results.

Why to Recommend This Movie:

• Raises Awareness of a Critical Issue: The film brings to light the serious problem of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, which is a crucial step towards addressing it.

• Inspired by a True Story: Knowing that the events depicted are based on reality adds a layer of significance and emotional resonance for viewers.

• Powerful Central Performance: The performance of the young lead actor, Ari Lopez, is reportedly captivating and central to the film’s emotional impact.

• Potential for Social Impact: The movie has the potential to spark conversations and encourage action against human trafficking.

• Compelling and Gripping Narrative: The story of Jesús’s struggle for survival and freedom is likely to keep viewers engaged and invested in his fate.

• Insight into a Hidden World: The film offers a glimpse into the dark reality of sweatshops and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

• Emotional and Thought-Provoking: The themes of hope, resilience, and injustice can evoke strong emotions and encourage reflection on societal issues.

• Well-Crafted Cinematography and Score: Reports suggest the film is visually well-made and features a moving score by a renowned composer, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

What Movie Trend Film Is Following:

• True Story Adaptations: The film aligns with the popular trend of adapting real-life events into movies, often to shed light on important social or historical issues.

• Socially Relevant Thrillers: “City of Dreams” can be categorized as a thriller with a strong social message, aiming to entertain while also raising awareness about human trafficking. This blend of genres is increasingly common.

What Big Social Trend Is Following:

• Increased Awareness of Human Rights Issues: Globally, there is growing awareness and activism surrounding human rights, including the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking. This film taps into this trend by highlighting a contemporary form of exploitation.

“City of Dreams” (2023) is a film with a powerful and important story to tell, based on the harrowing reality of human trafficking. While initial critical reception appears positive, some audience reviews suggest potential flaws in its execution and tone. Nevertheless, the film likely serves as a potent reminder of the existence of modern-day slavery and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty. It’s worth watching for its potential to raise awareness and provoke thought about a significant global issue, though viewers should be aware of potentially disturbing content.

Recommendations for Film Makers:

• Prioritize Authentic and Sensitive Portrayal: When tackling sensitive topics like human trafficking, it is crucial to prioritize authenticity and avoid sensationalism or exploitation of the victims’ suffering. Thorough research and collaboration with experts and survivors can ensure a respectful and impactful narrative.

• Focus on Character Development and Emotional Depth: While the subject matter is inherently dramatic, focusing on the nuanced experiences and emotional journeys of the characters can create a more profound and lasting impact on the audience.

• Balance Thriller Elements with Social Commentary: If incorporating thriller elements, ensure they serve to enhance the narrative and the underlying social message rather than overshadowing it. The goal should be to engage the audience while effectively conveying the gravity of the issue.

• Consider Long-Term Impact and Call to Action: Filmmakers addressing social issues might consider ways to extend the film’s impact beyond entertainment, perhaps by partnering with organizations working on the ground to combat the issues depicted.

Recommendations for Movie Industry:

• Support and Promote Films Addressing Important Social Issues: The industry should continue to support and provide platforms for films that tackle challenging but crucial social issues like human trafficking. These stories can contribute to public awareness and potentially inspire change.

• Encourage Responsible Storytelling: Promote guidelines and resources for filmmakers on how to approach sensitive topics ethically and responsibly, ensuring respect for victims and avoiding harmful stereotypes.

• Facilitate Collaboration with NGOs and Experts: Encourage filmmakers to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and authenticity in their portrayals of complex social issues. This can lead to more impactful and credible storytelling.

• Explore Diverse Perspectives and Voices: Support filmmakers from diverse backgrounds to tell stories about their own communities and experiences, offering a broader range of perspectives on global issues.