City of Dreams
Director J. M. H. Maise tells a great story in this film, ‘Dame Un Miedo’ which revolves around child trafficking. The film canvassed standing ovations at many film festivals across the globe because it gives the viewer a quest a quest to end child trafficking. In fact, the film uses fiction inspired by true events which majorly contributes to the cause of child trafficking. At its core, this film provides the audience with unusual elements that makes it a thriller. Through riveting scenes, ‘Dame Un Miedo’ aims to raise awareness about the rising issues of child trafficking.
As per the film, breaking the shackles of incorporating violence and creating gender biased roles seems to be more of a dream that can never promise change. It would be wrong to state that child trafficking can never be eradicated, but this film majorly focuses on the Bleak End of the Road Theory, which states that the problem, in fact, has reached a point where no one is willing to lend a helping hand.
Jesus is just like any other aspirational athlete. He wants to be a soccer player, however, he resorts to day dream after getting disappointed enough trying to make things work in Mexico. The reason? Simple enough; he is not getting enough participation or the opportunities that are thoroughly needed in order to chase his dreams. He has the passion, the belief, the guts and humanity burning within him, but the only logical solution to everything right now for him is a Paris city brochure. With everything stunning and excellent in the world of a budding sportsman, he was running away from all the worries burning him down. The first time Jesus was not seeing a practical world but instead, saw glimpses of hope and a bonafide solution.
However, things took a further step down with Mohit’s debut at the feature. This time around, the viewers were shown the utter chaos of life and what it really meant to struggle even in dreams. The sheer beauty and chaos around the storyline thrust average viewers to a time where they can practically see everything epically swallowing Jesús’s dreams whole. There becomes a point where some criticisms are hooked onto Activists like Angelina Jolie, Politicians Bill, Hillary, Barack, and Donald, and even controversial Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In reality, these sit in the lower third of the movie and do not deliver when it concerns the plot. The audience can only cheer for Jeeves as the film progresses leaving the narrative behind.
Interspersed throughout, the audience can catch a glimpse of the character’s goal, however, it is only for short this time as El Jefe (Alfredo Castro) and his nephew Cesar (Andres Delgado) move the film into returning to relive the abduction and enslavement of a child only to be traumatized by the initially portrayed ‘strong’ taskmaster. The depiction of violence on Jesus while working under El Jefe was so extremed that it reminded of how a similar approach to violence was employed in Gibson’s ‘Passion of the Christ’, and posed this question of whether the sight of violence is needed in order to convey an important message, or are the only intended to be shock? A number of questions arise when people ask about ‘ What good does it do, to show such shocking scenes in a movie similar to, ‘Final Destinations,’ in this case for example when Jesus is about to be injured, eyes, by a nail in the floorboard placed by El Jefe.
Teasin, danlining and dramalizing the abduction which highlights, and at the same time extreme examples of power which is what the director had intended to show, is how ‘City of Dreams’ comes across as.
The tale progresses in such a way that it serves as a suspense drama and features a well-designed long take chase sequence that takes place within the Fashion District of Los Angeles, intense conflicts between the protagonist and his abductors, and police officers arriving in the nick of time to help and take El Jefe away while he exclaims, “This is America!” But even this film feels unreasonably hostile towards Latinos, depicting us as traitors in the abuse of our children literally and employing a theme of ghostly men dressed in native costumes disturbing Jesús’ peace to imply that such primitive and pagan practices had more to do with his mother’s passing than conversion.
Also along the lines of forced importation of labor, the film begs the question of the possibility of sexual exploitation when Jesús’ beloved friend Elena (Renata Vaca) gets captured by a ghostlike woman who walks into the manufacturing unit where girls are employed for ominous purposes. The fact that Jesús is literally rendered voiceless for the better part of the film is significant in that it oppressively represents what he has been through and how vulnerable he was until saved and in the embrace of one of the police agents that rescued him uttered his first words. However, the film does not go any further and depicts an individual at the climax of their transformation where they start overcoming the horrific hostage scenario they have been subjected to.
We see a closeup of Jesús’ face as tears roll down his cheeks and a roaring crowd chanting his name begins to echo louder. He is in real danger: will he be deported or, like millions of children attempting to better their lives, will he be punished for that?
One does not have to actually witness child abuse to categorically abhor it. However, “City of Dreams” has non-representational objectives, this rather saucy singularity about not going to the police for assistance because it might result in someone being deported or imprisoned is simply so incomplete that it appears negligent. “Sound of Freedom” was accused of being a white savior novel while similarly “City of Dreams” features Jason Patric as an obnoxious cop who barges into the conspiracy preventing justice from getting to these kids while the film’s director is more concerned about the film’s box office than the issue.
It is quite ironic to scream “save the children” when an executive producer of the film has abusive and sexually depraved allegations brought against him, while people are trying to strip states of child labor laws, and considering border militarization helps no one in Jesús’ position. The film is pathetic, evil, poorly made both in design and storytelling, ethically dubious if not outright damaging, and provides no resources to provide a way forward. It is yet another advocacy film without solutions to offer, simply engaging in problem promotion and pretending that the sharing of such a problem actually solves it.
For More Movies Visit Putlocker.