Made in L.A.

Filmmaker Almudena Cabracedo's Made in L.A., which looks at labor abuses in this sprawling metropolis, focuses on three Latina immigrants who were tired of working in classic sweatshop conditions for well under minimum wage to make clothing for the giant chain Forever 21. Although a retailer has never been held responsible for human rights abuse (like other corporations, Forever 21 claims to be ignorant of what goes on in their contracted sweatshops), the trio not only brought suit against the company in a landmark case but also launched a consumer boycott. What's fascinating is that Made in L.A. doesn't simply show the depths to which these individuals have to sink to keep their jobs, but in fine cinéma vérité style invites viewers into their lives, witnessing their shame at work and pride in the picket line. Combining interviews with contemporary and archival footage, Made in L.A. offers a vital look at the world of poor laborers, along the way illuminating some of the myriad complexities of the immigration issue. The fact that Forever 21 makes clothes in the U.S. rather than using child labor overseas should be the foundation for a positive made-in-the-US-of-A story, not a tale about the exploitation of undocumented laborers. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Jacobson)