Bread and Roses (2000)

Director:

Ken Loach

Writer:

Paul Laverty (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 September 2000 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Balance Of Power Is About To Change.

Plot:

Two Latina sisters work as cleaners in a downtown office building, and fight for the right to unionize.

Plot Keywords:

Janitor | Justice | Rose | Mexican | Supervisor

Awards:

5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Pilar Padilla	...	Maya
Adrien Brody	...	Sam Shapiro
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Rosa
Jack McGee	...	Bert
Monica Rivas	...	Simona
Frankie Davila	...	Luis (as Frank Davila)
Lillian Hurst	...	Anna
Mayron Payes	...	Ben
Maria Orellana	...	Berta
Melody Garrett	...	Cynthia
Gigi Jackman	...	Dolores
Beverly Reynolds	...	Ella
Eloy Méndez	...	Juan (as Eloy Mendez)
Elena Antonenko	...	Maria
Olga Gorelik	...	Olga
Jesus Perez	...	Oscar
Alonso Chavez	...	Ruben
Estela Maeda	...	Teresa
George Lopez	...	Perez
José Jiménez	...	Freddy (as Jose Jimenez)
Sherman Augustus	...	Ernest
Julian Orea	...	Coyote
Javier Torres	...	Coyote
Roscio Saenz	...	Emma
Blake Clark	...	Mr. Griffin
Pepe Serna	...	Restaurateur
Tony Rizzoli	...	Personnel Manager
Tom Gilroy	...	Director of Campaigns
Neal Baer	...	Doctor
David Steinberg	...	Lawyer
Ted Baer	...	Lawyer
Terry Anzur	...	TV Reporter
Greg Montgomery	...	Supervising Policeman
Clement Blake	...	Gas Station Attendant
Tom Bailey	...	Truck Driver (as Tom Michael Bailey)
Richard Bravo	...	INS Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vanessa Angel	...	Vanessa Angel - Party Guest (uncredited)
William Atherton	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Lara Belmont	...	Herself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Cooper Campbell	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Benicio Del Toro	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Oded Fehr	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Gary Fredo	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Stuart Gordon	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Rick Otto	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Chris Penn	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Ron Perlman	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Tim Roth	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Robert Stahoviak	...	INS Officer (uncredited)
Gail Thomas	...	Corporate Lawyer (uncredited)
Robin Tunney	...	Herself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Miguel Angel Varela Fimbres	...	Caucasian Teenager with beisball cap in demonstration inside the building lobby (uncredited)
Samuel West	...	Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
Stephanie Zimbalist	...	Stephanie Zimbalist - Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Ken Loach

Writing credits
Paul Laverty		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ulrich Felsberg	....	executive producer
Rebecca O'Brien	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Barry Ackroyd

Film Editing by
Jonathan Morris

Casting by
Richard Hicks
Rosalinda Morales
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Martin Johnson

Art Direction by
Tucker Doherty		(as Catherine Doherty)

Set Decoration by
Melissa M. Levander		(as Melissa Levander)

Costume Design by
Michele Michel		(as Michelle Michel)

Makeup Department
Veronique Guillem	....	makeup designer
Yvette Perez	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Cathy Mickel Gibson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bradley Morris	....	second second assistant director
Ricardo Méndez Matta	....	first assistant director (as Ricardo Mendez Matta)
Sharon Swab	....	second assistant director
Jorge L. Baron	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator
Michael Lindsay	....	property master
Paula Maslowski	....	art department production assistant
Eric Reichardt	....	head painter
Julie Witherington	....	property assistant (as Julie Sexsmith)

Sound Department
Ray Beckett	....	sound recordist
Robert Brazier	....	foley mixer
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Kite	....	utility sound
Richard Pryke	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant
Wayne Brooks	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Marcelo Colacilli	....	gaffer (as Marcelo L. Colacilli)
Orlando Hernandez	....	key grip
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
Diego Quemada-Diez	....	camera operator (as Diego Quemada)
Calvin Starnes	....	best boy grip
Haskell Wexler	....	second camera operator

Casting Department
Steve Brooksbank	....	additional casting
Janet Cunningham	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Javier Arrieta	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Jeffrey R. Coulter	....	assistant editor (as Jeff Coulter)
Anthony Morris	....	first assistant editor
Rick Weis	....	assistant editor
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist

Transportation Department
Roger Bojarski	....	transportation captain
Lance Cherniet	....	transportation coordinator
William P. Lafon	....	driver
Sean C. Ryan	....	driver

Other crew
Robert Allen	....	medic
Martin Butterworth	....	title designer
Pablo Cruz	....	researcher
Caleb Duffy	....	assistant location manager
Isobel Griffiths	....	fixer
Quentin Halliday	....	assistant location manager
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Erin Meehan	....	set production assistant
Mario Paolinelli	....	dialogue (Italian version)
Heidi S. Pavey	....	production coordinator (as Heidi Pavey)
Leoncio Provoste	....	production assistant
Virginia Romero	....	staff production associate
Wesley Staples	....	studio teacher
Suzy Strawn	....	studio teacher

Thanks
Vanessa Angel	....	special thanks
William Atherton	....	special thanks
Lara Belmont	....	special thanks
Cooper Campbell	....	special thanks
Benicio Del Toro	....	special thanks
Oded Fehr	....	special thanks
Stuart Gordon	....	special thanks
Rick Otto	....	special thanks
Chris Penn	....	special thanks
Ron Perlman	....	special thanks
Tim Roth	....	special thanks
Robin Tunney	....	special thanks
Samuel West	....	special thanks (as Sam West)
Stephanie Zimbalist	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Parallax Pictures
• Alta Films
• Alta Producción
• Arte
• BIM
• Bac Films
• British Screen Productions
• British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)
• Cinart
• Degeto Film
• FilmFour
• Filmcoopi Zürich
• Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
• La Sept-Arte
• Road Movies Filmproduktion
• Tornasol Films
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Distributors

• Mars Distribution (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alta Films (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Cine 3 (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2000) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2000-2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Epix Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Air Studios  music recorded at
• C.A.S.T. Security  security
• Ciné Image  titles (as Cine Image)
• Cola-Cilli Motion Picture Equipment  grip and lighting equipment (as Colacilli Motion Picture Equipment)
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Kodak  film stock supplied by
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Pinewood Studios  dubbing theatre (as Pinewood Studios)
• Ronnie Yeskel Casting  casting
• Ruhr Sound Studios  post-production sound services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Ultravision  camera equipment provided by (as Ultra Vision)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and brief nudity

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK | France | Germany | Spain | Italy | Switzerland

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:18 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:L | USA:TV-MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Doheny Library - 3550 Trousdale Parkway, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Parallax Pictures

Trivia:

Prior to filming, Adrien Brody did undercover research as a union member in Los Angeles. He went to conventions and sat in on strike talks. A couple of the members recognized him, but Brody persuaded them not to blow his cover.

Quotes:

Sam:We want bread. But we want roses too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Just Experience It and Enjoy

When I attended a screening a week ago sponsored by a local public supported radio station (KPFK) in Los Angeles, I was not certain if this film was a documentary or typical crafted Hollywood-style hyperbole since I listened with half an ear while jogging and listening to an opportunity to attend.

Who would have thought that a simple discussion on a local public supported radio station in Los Angeles (KPFK) a few years ago would compel a screenwriter (Paul Laverty) to visit a union organizing effort in downtown Los Angeles (circa 1999) resulting in a film that was drama, comedy, farce, fear, compassion and a taste of dusted immigrants creeping through Tijuana-to-USA shrubs to gain entry via the abusive "coyotes" human smuggler routes. Most of these immigrants land in day-worker situations and low pay and yet Los Angeles would collapse without them. This film concentrates on the downtown office area -- owned and occupied by the elite of Los Angeles establishment - and where many undocumented workers toil under conditions that are far less than that suggested by international Human Rights standards.

This was a polished non-Hollywood-capability-film but yet intimately Los Angeles. I listened to an interview yesterday on KPFK with Laverty and learned that funding was elsewhere - Europe I recall - not 'Hollywood'. And Laverty is from Scotland. One would never guess that the film was actually on the low-budget scale when compared with Hollywood's pleasure to spend big dollars.

I also learned that the film was made in 30-days (hence the vibrant interaction of all cast members and energetic direction by Loach) and is in release this week with 30 prints in Los Angeles, and 300 nationwide USA. Sounds like some symmetry there and potential Lottery pick permutations.

My only reservation is that the story is highly political in an undercurrent nature and may frighten an extensive audience --- unless the viewers just take the courage to go, watch, and enjoy. The film will do the rest. The viewer will leave with more than the cost of a matinee price ticket.

I also suggest that in an upcoming meeting between Vicente Fox, President of Mexico, and George W. Bush, President of United States, that Vicente snag a copy of the film and show it to George while sipping tea in Texas. And then for dessert, sip more tea and watch "Traffic".