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Bracero Stories is a bi-lingual video documentary exploring the personal experiences of five former “guest workers” who participated in the controversial U.S./Mexican government program granting temporary work contracts to several million Mexican laborers between 1942 and 1964.
Reminiscences by the “Braceros” are interwoven with archival materials, forming a composite history of the Bracero experience. Though many of their stories detail the hardships encountered in the program, Braceros generally consider the experience a valuable one, and their recollections invariably convey a great sense of dignity. One rarely gets the feeling that they felt like “victims,” but that they were merely doing what had to be done under difficult economic circumstances. This collective portrait also reveals the considerable pride that former Braceros still feel regarding their important contribution to U.S. society.
Discussions in the media, past and present, generally represent the opinions of government and corporate policy makers, seldom focusing on the lived experience of the workers. By focusing on the their perspective, the film offers a little-known human story that remains vitally relevant to this day.
Juxtaposed with the personal recollections, interviews with other participants in the historic program assess the program’s effectiveness—and its justness, mirroring contemporary concerns about illegal immigration and the possible implementation of a new guest worker program. Ultimately, the film seeks to put a personal face on the concept of foreign “guest worker.”
Festivals/Screenings:
The Tulipanes Latino Art and Film Festival
Holland, Michigan
September, 2008 Best Social Justice Film
University of Texas El Paso Union Cinema
September, 2008
Presented by the UTEP Department of Communication and the UTEP Chicano Studies Program.
The Long Island Latino International Film Festival
the Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook, NY
September, 2008
The Cine Sol Latino Film Festival Cine El Rey, McAllen, Texas
September, 2008
McAllen Art & Film Festival Cine El Rey, McAllen, Texas
October, 2008. Audience Award for Best Documentary
International Latino Film Festival—San Francisco Bay Area
Brava Theatre, 24th and Harrison (the Mission), and
MACLA, 510 South First St., San Jose, CA, November, 2008
Cine Sin Fin 14th Annual Chicano Film Festival
Casa de Sousa, Historic Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles.
November, 2008 Jon Alonzo Award for Cinematography
University Of Texas El Paso
Wednesday, April , 2009, Blumberg Auditorium, First Floor, University Library.
The event is FREE and open to the public.
Presented by the UTEP Chicana/o Studies Program and the UTEP Department of Communication.
Reel Work Labor Film Festival
April, 2009
Media Learning Center,
Cal State University-Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA
Reel Work Labor Film Festival
Food & Fuel in Agriculture program
May, 2009,
Live Oak Grange, Santa Cruz.
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Austin, Texas,
Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC)
600 River Street, Austin, Texas 78701,
April 2009
Chicago Latino Film Festival
April 2009
Facets Multimedia,
1517 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, IL
National Steinbeck Center
Salinas, CA
May, 2009
Cesar Chavez Library
Salinas, CA
May, 2009
John Steinbeck Library
Salinas, CA
June, 2009 LaborFest 2009, Roxie Theatre, San Francisco, CA, July, 2009 Plaza Theater Classic Film Festival, Philanthropy Theater, El Paso, Texas, August 2009. New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd., Las Cruces, NM 88011 (575) 522-4100 Thursday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. (director present), & the following Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.: September 26, 2009, October 10, 2009, November 7, 2009, November 28, 2009, December 12, 2009,January 2, 2010, January 16, 2010. El Paso Community College, Mission del Paso campus, room. A103. September 16, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Presented by the Hispanic Heritage Committee. Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, Orlando, Florida. September 17 & 19, 2009, 12:00 p.m.Women's League, of Gainesville Florida, 5th Annual Latino Film Festival, Sept. 19, 2009. *NOTE: Also see local PBS listings for broadcast of Bracero Stories on the Latino Public Broadcasting series Voces beginning September, 2009, with re-broadcasts beginning September, 2010.
2010:
"Sin Fronteras Film Festival," at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM, Friday, April 9, 2010.
National Council of La Raza & The National Latino Family Expo, San Antonio, Texas, Sat. July 19 & Mon. July 12.
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Braceros workers on the Railroad. Photo courtesy Institute of Oral History, University of Texas El Paso
Bracero identification papers. Photo courtesy Institute of Oral History, University of Texas El Paso.
