Cesar Chavez (2014)
Storyline
A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez. Chronicling the birth of a modern American labour movement, Cesar Chavez tells the story of the famed civil rights leader and labour organiser torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers. Passionate but soft-spoken, Chavez embraced non-violence as he battled greed and prejudice in his struggle to bring dignity to working people.
Directors
Writers
Cast
Michael Peña, John Malkovich, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn, Wes Bentley, Roberto Sosa, Ron Perkins, Yancey Arias, Gabriel Mann, Jacob Vargas, John Ortiz, America Ferrera, Sarah Finigan, Julian Sands, Mark Moses, Eli Vargas, Lisa Brenner, Maynor Alvarado, Lorena McGregor, Darion Basco, Claudia de Vasco, Sara Banerjee, Liv Boughn, Dan Gordon
Trailer
Reviews
83
In the title role, Michael Peña has a no-nonsense fire: He captures how Chavez borrowed from Martin Luther King Jr. but also fueled the struggle with his own improvisatory brilliance.
75
Like "42," Cesar Chavez lacks the budget to feel truly epic in scope. The violence is scattered, shocking and personal, the struggles within the union muted but the outrage — is palpable.
70
Arizona Republic
It never quite takes off in a stirring, inspirational way, but moves steadily forward in solid fashion.
63
Slant Magazine
Not unlike Michael Peña's prior supporting roles, Chavez is marked by an explosive anger kept under a cherubic, sweet-natured mask, providing the surprise lacking in the story's text.
58
What Cesar Chavez critically lacks is a unique, complicated, or personal perspective on its world-famous subject. As is often the problem with portraits of influential firebrands, the film never quite sees past the movement to the man leading it.
