Written & directed by Dustin Brown
Produced by Cat Hobbs, Daniel Leighton & Kaiulani Bush
Director of Photography Mark Mannschreck
February 5, 2026, Opening night screening
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Review by Odalys Nanin
RECOMMENDED
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/7/26 – It took Passion, Pain & Perseverance for this timely film “Solidarity” to be finished in ten years under the brilliant writing/direction of Dustin Brown.
The driving force of the film is the story line of Ines, a Mexican immigrant mother, seamstress, Elpidia Carrillo’s, emotionally heart felt visceral portrayal keeps you wanting more. Ines works at a sewing factory in DTLA making blue t shirts at 7 cents a piece. She’s underpaid and in constant threat to work faster and longer hours. She’s trapped in a system of injustice where slum factory manager Don Miguel, Danny Mora, a sexual predator who threatens to fire her if she doesn’t meet her quota.
Ines is torn between keeping her job so she can send money to her 19 young daughter who’s wedding she wants to attend if only she could get one weekend off.
She takes under her wing an undocumented minor Emilia, Montse Hernandez who suffers a hand injury at work. Her wound remains untreated due to her lack of money. Ines lends her the money for the surgery only to be taken away a few days later by ICE into a detention center.
Juxtapose to Ines is Tomas a Lithuanian immigrant, a believable Mantas Valantiejus who works at Frank’s butcher shop doing a job he detests. He escaped his abusive father to make his dream come true in Los Angeles. But instead, he’s trapped doing a job of grinding meat and butchering pigs in order to pay his rent. His only joy, it’s his adorable dog Jack. He takes him for runs on the beach and stays there to watch the sunsets. His love interest is Kristina, a charismatic, Norma Kuhling, the apt manager who feels sorry for him after his dog Jack dies.
Ines & Matos are two different immigrants from different continents yet similar in their struggle to survive in a harsh environment. Where business owners take advantage of the undocumented by under paying them and using threats to report them to ICE.
Director of Photography Mark Mannschreck’s contrast of colors, LA City skylines, fast trains and sunset beaches make it a visual gem.
This film was ten years in the making yet so timely in its release. The lawless ICE raids in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, the horrific killing of innocent citizens whose only crime was to exercise their American rights to protest has turn this country into a totalitarian regime. I quote the lead actress, Elpidia Carrillo who said, “We didn’t think it will get this violent while making this film.”
Everyone should go see this film. Thru the eyes of the immigrant’s perspective, you’ll discover that we share similar struggles. After all we are all made in the image of God who loved everyone regardless of skin color, gender, nationality, creed or immigration status. Rodney King said it best “Can we all just get along and work towards Peace! “
