BREAD AND ROSES aka PAN Y ROSAS
Year: 2000
USA: Lions Gate Releasing
UK: FilmFour
Cast: Pilar Padilla, Adrien Brody, Elpidia Carrillo, Jack McGee, George Lopez, Alonso Chavez, Monica Rivas, Frankie Davila, Benicio Del Toro, Ron Perlman, Stuart Gordon, Terry Anzur, Robert Stahoviak, Stephanie Zimbalist
Director: Ken Loach
Countries: UK / France / Germany / Spain / Germany / Switzerland
Language: Spanish
USA & UK: 110 mins
USA Rated: R for strong language and brief nudity
UK Certificate: 15 contains coarse language and some strong sexual references
USA Release Date: 1 June 2001 (Limited Release - wider)
USA Release Date: 11 May 2001 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 27 April 2001
Synopsis
Fiery Mexican sisters Maya (Pilar Padilla) and Rosa (Elpidia Carrillo) work as cleaners in a downtown office block. A fated meeting with Sam (Adrien Brody), a passionate American activist, leads to a guerilla campaign against their employers. The fight threatens their livelihood, family and risks their expulsion from the country. BREAD AND ROSES is a story about the most marginalized of Los Angeles communities daring to take on their corporate bosses against all odds.
BREAD AND ROSES is inspired by the real life "Justice for Janitors" campaign led by immigrant cleaners, mostly women, in LA. Director Ken Loach unravels the events centering his tale on the spirited Latin American community who, with their battle cry of "no justice, no peace", dare to take on the corporate powers and find a sense of dignity.