Building The American Dream
Directed by Chelsea Hernandez- SFUFF 2020 Films
- USA
- Documentary
- English, Spanish
- Subtitled
- 2019
- 75 mins
Across Texas, an unstoppable construction boom drives urban sprawl and luxury high-rises. Its dirty secret: abuse of immigrant labor. BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM captures a turning point as a movement forms to fight widespread construction industry injustices. Grieving their son, a Mexican family campaigns for a life-and-death safety ordinance. A Salvadorian electrician couple owed thousands in back pay fights for their children’s future. A bereaved son battles to protect others from his family’s preventable tragedy. A story of courage, resilience and community, the film reveals shocking truths about the hardworking immigrants who build the American Dream, from which they are excluded.
Plays in
Closing Night Feature: Building the American Dream
“Build! Build! Build!” is a common refrain all over America. But who is doing the work, and what rights are they being given in this anti-immigrant, big business climate?