Watch La Ciudad

La Ciudad is a 1998 film directed by David Riker, that tells the story of four Latino immigrants that live and work in New York City. Shot in black and white, the movie presents four different episodes, each one focusing on a different character, but all interconnected by their common struggle. The first episode tells the story of Bricks, a Mexican immigrant that works in construction. He accidentally hits a homeless man with a brick and goes into a downward spiral of guilt and fear. His coworkers try to convince him not to turn himself in to the police, as they don't have papers and could all be deported.

The second episode follows Javi, a Salvadoran teenager that works in a sweatshop sewing clothes. He dreams of getting out of the city and going back to his village, but doesn't have the money to do it. When he meets a girl, he thinks he has found a way out, but things don't go as planned.

The third episode tells the story of Maribel, a young mother that works as a nanny for a wealthy white family. Her son is sick and needs medical attention, but she can't afford it. When the child she takes care of gets lost in the park, Maribel has to choose between looking for him or taking her son to the hospital.

Finally, the fourth episode focuses on Benny, a garment worker from the Dominican Republic. He is fired from his job and, as a consequence, loses his apartment. With nowhere to go, he ends up sleeping on the streets, where he meets a homeless man that teaches him how to survive.

Throughout the film, we see the characters struggling to make ends meet, dealing with exploitation, racism, and discrimination. They are all trying to find a way to survive in a city that doesn't seem to care about them. La Ciudad offers a poignant account of the lives of immigrants in urban America, highlighting the inequalities and injustices they face.

The film was praised for its realism and sensitivity, as well as its portrayal of the Latino community. The use of black and white cinematography adds to the raw and gritty atmosphere of the movie, emphasizing the harshness of the characters' lives. The actors, mostly non-professionals, deliver nuanced performances, capturing the complexities of their characters with authenticity.

La Ciudad is a moving and thought-provoking film that offers a powerful commentary on the experience of immigrants in the United States. It confronts the viewer with the harsh realities of life in the city, but also portrays the resilience and humanity of those who are struggling to survive. A must-see for anyone interested in social issues and human rights.

La Ciudad is a 1998 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 76.