Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Plodding biopic doesn't capture Chavez' tarnished legacy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Cesar Chavez
What's the Story?
CESAR CHAVEZ (Michael Peña) started working in the fields of Arizona at 11, and grew up watching his family, friends, and other workers be exploited by wealthy farm owners. Vowing to reform the industry, he helped found the United Farm Workers labor union with Dolores Huerta (Rosario Dawson), and organized protests, strikes, and a national grape boycott that eventually forced the powerful growers led by a character played by John Malkovich to negotiate, in this biopic directed by Mexican actor and director Diego Luna.
Is It Any Good?
No doubt Chavez makes an interesting subject for a biopic; both his achievements and controversies deserve to be cemented on-screen. But Cesar Chavez, the film, does a lackluster job of doing so. Peña succeeds in bringing the civil rights icon to life, but his Cesar lacks charisma and doesn't hold the audience's gaze throughout the film, failing to inspire. It doesn't help that his arc is told in a predictable and linear manner. With so much rich material to work with, surely the filmmakers could've found a more interesting way to tell his story?
Furthermore, Cesar Chavez does illuminate a crucial figure, time, and place in our history, but it only shows part of the picture. In more recent decades, Chavez has come under fire for his hardline stance against illegal immigration, and in 2026, the United Farm Workers disavowed its former leader due to Chavez' sexual abuse allegations. It's a shame, because this movie has many worthy traits: Rarely do you see a Latino story on the big screen in which the majority of the cast in front of and behind the scenes is also Latino. Teens and adults who watch the film may find themselves surprised by the intricacies of the movement and the role Filipino migrant workers played. Not enough insight is dispensed, however, to rescue Cesar Chavez from a severe lack of momentum, nor its dated framing of the labor leader.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the farm-labor movement shown in Cesar Chavez. What did you know about this issue before watching the movie? What did you learn? What do you think about the conditions of the workers? How did they manage to change the industry?
Are you shocked by the violence Chavez and the other protesters endure? How realistic is the depiction of violence? Would the movie have the same impact without the violence?
How do Chavez's efforts to lead a social movement affect his family life? How might the film look different if it explored the figure's controversies and sexual abuse allegations?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 28, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : July 22, 2014
- Cast : Michael Pena , Rosario Dawson , America Ferrera
- Director : Diego Luna
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History ( Biopic )
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and language
- Last updated : March 18, 2026
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