The new blockbuster film City of Dreams has erected billboards in the heart of Hollywood and Los Angeles, highlighting the plague of child slavery in a city that’s known for it. The move has raised eyebrows and stopped traffic as the film debuts in select theaters across America.
The billboards read: “12 million children are trapped in modern slavery.”
The film tells the story of Jesús, a young Mexican boy who dreams of becoming a soccer star. His dreams are shattered when he is trafficked across the border and forced to work in a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles. Thrown into a harsh world of exploitation, Jesús must follow the tough rules set by El Jefe, the boss who promises freedom to those who meet their quotas. Despite his difficult situation, Jesús finds comfort in Elena, a girl who was also tricked and sold into slavery. When Elena disappears and another worker, Carlitos, is badly beaten, Jesús realizes that the only way to save himself and the others is to fight back, even if it means risking his life.
Life and business coach Tony Robbins, who is an executive producer of the film, along with director Mohit Ramchandani, appeared on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Wednesday. They discussed their hope that the film will act as a “call to action” and “wake people up.”
“On the previous film, ‘Sound of Freedom’… we had the same situation,” Robbins told Watters. “You know, on July 4th weekend last year, we beat out Disney with all their money because people were so moved by the film. And my wife and I have been involved in this for eight years. It’s not a side-hustle for us that we do. We’ve freed a little more than 50,000 children.”
“We funded the freedom of them, and we’ve actually gone out on those. I’ve gone undercover with scars on my face — the ugliest things you could ever imagine in your life happening to our children, but also the beauty is when they’re freed,” Robbins continued.
Posts about the film have gone viral in recent days, with some moviegoers alleging that theaters are suppressing the film’s audience.
“Why are seating charts for City of Dreams showing full but nobody’s here? If @AMCTheatres employees know of suppression orders, why would they risk admitting it. Let me show you. Who is behind these tactics?” Kevin Posobiec posted on X along with a video showing a full seating chart but a mostly empty theater.
Executive producers include Tony Robbins, Luis Fonsi, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mira Sorvino, Enrique Santos (President of iHeart), Yalitza Aparicio (ROMA), Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman, Message in a Bottle, Angel Eyes), Michael Phillips (Taxi Driver, Close Encounters, The Sting), and John Devaney. Produced by Sean Wolfington (Sound of Freedom), Jon Graham, Rufus Parker, and Matthew Diezel.
The film is released by Roadside Attractions.
