Dolores Huerta will hopefully soon be a household name. A documentary about the workers’ rights activist, “Dolores,” was acquired by PBS and is set to screen theatrically this fall. According to a press release, the doc will also air on PBS’ “Independent Lens” in 2018. “Dolores” will be distributed to Latino communities and classrooms via PBS LearningMedia with the help of Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB).
“In the copious volumes written about Cesar Chavez and how he formed the first farm workers’ union in America, there’s little mention of Dolores Huerta, although she was his equal partner and co-founder of the union,” the press release summarizes. “With unprecedented access to both Dolores and her children, the film reveals the raw, personal stories behind the public figure. It portrays a woman both heroic and flawed, working tirelessly for social change even as her 11 children longed to have her at home.”
Directed by Peter Bratt (“La Mission”), “Dolores” made its world premiere at Sundance in January. Regina K. Scully and Janet MacGillivray are among the project’s executive producers.
PBS Distribution will oversee all home entertainment, digital, and Canadian rights for “Dolores.” It will handle the educational/non-theatrical rights with Ro*Co Films.
“Dolores Huerta is an American treasure and a civil rights icon. Her name and her story should be known by all of us,” said PBS Vice President of News and Independent Film Marie Nelson. “When we saw ‘Dolores’ at Sundance, we knew it was the kind of compelling story that we wanted to help bring to diverse audiences.”
Lois Vossen, “Independent Lens” executive producer, added: “In the 1970s, the national grape boycott Dolores Huerta helped organize played out in the small rural Minnesota farming community where I grew up — supported by our Catholic Church along with tens of thousands of religious organizations across the country. More than 40 years later, Dolores is still an indefatigable architect for social change on behalf of poor, under-represented people, urging them to seek self-determination with her refrain ‘Si Se Puede’ (‘Yes We Can’).”
We’re especially excited about “Dolores” since PBS, programs supporting women, and anti-poverty measures are all on the budgetary chopping block. The story of a woman fighting injustice through grass roots efforts — and the fact that her story will be accessible to everyone through public broadcasting — is an essential narrative in our current political climate.
PBS’ recent film acquisitions include Jennifer Brea’s autobiographical doc, “Unrest,” and Kahane Cooperman’s Oscar-nominated short “Joe’s Violin.” “Unrest,” which explores a mysterious illness Brea is suffering from, will receive a national theatrical release and will broadcast on “Independent Lens” in early 2018. “Joe’s Violin,” which shows how a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor and a 12-year-old Bronx schoolgirl connect through music, will air on PBS’ “POV” this summer.
