DOLORES

In the copious volumes written about Cesar Chavez and how he formed the first farm workers' union in America, there's little mention of Dolores Huerta, although she was his equal partner and co-founder of the union.

In the first film of its kind, DOLORES sheds light on this enigmatic, intensely private woman who is among the most important activists in American history. With unprecedented access to both Dolores and her children, the film reveals the raw, personal stories behind the public figure. It portrays a woman both heroic and flawed, working tirelessly for social change even as her eleven children longed to have her at home.

The film follows Dolores Huerta's fascinating life, from the fearless young woman confronting teamsters on violent picket lines to the activist grandmother nearly beaten to death by a San Francisco police squad. Overshadowed by the legacy of Cesar Chavez and forced from the ranks of the all-male union leadership after his death, Dolores learns the painful truth -- that her gender is the greatest obstacle of all. But she turns her defeat into inspiration, setting the course for a lifetime pursuit of equality for all.

While tracing her trajectory through the most radical social and cultural movements of the past 50 years, from brown power and feminism to LGBTQ rights and environmental justice, Dolores provides an unflinching look at the barriers faced by women and people of color within the very communities they're fighting for. Featuring interviews with Angela Davis, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton and Luis Valdez the film reveals her ever-expanding wave of influence through decades of activism, and leading many to ask why her contributions have been erased from American history.

Sundance Film Festival

Audience Award, Houston Latino Film Festival

Cleveland International Film Festival

RiverRun International Film Festival

San Francisco International Film Festival 

Denver Women + FIlm Festival

Ashland Independent Film Festival

Nashville Film Festival

Post-screening panel discussion with:

Librada Paz - is a Mexican-American activist for the rights of farmworkers and recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.  

Karen Vitale - Co-Chair and founding member of ROCDSA, the Rochester chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). 

Stefan Schwartz - Purchaser at Good Food Collective

Community Partner: