“Yes we can.” Those familiar words were uttered during key speeches of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign—so much that it is hard to detach them from the now President of the United States. “Yes we can” in Spanish, “Si se puede,” isn’t a slogan that was invented by Barack Obama’s communication team. It was foremost the motto of the United Farm Workers, and invented by Mexican-American activists César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

Diego Luna’s first movie, “Cesar Chavez,” focuses on the life of the labor activist (played by Michael Peña) and his battle for civil rights. The movie is action-driven, getting right into the struggle and the organization of the union. There is melodramatic storyline in the movie that concerns how Chávez sacrificed his relationship with his son for the struggle. What is great about this movie is that, unlike most biopics, it doesn’t delve into sentimental or traumatic storylines. It’s about the collective struggle of the exploited Latino farmers in California in the sixties and seventies. We see the farmers, and the way they work and fight for their dignity.

Sometimes biopics about political figures focus too much on the icon and forget what they fight for – the people – and it becomes about an individualistic journey.  The movie also gives a prominent place to its female characters, Dolores Huerta (Rosario Dawson) and Helen Chávez (America Ferrara). They are seen as active participants of the struggle, just like they were working as hard in the fields. It also shows the division within the union, especially in the question of the use of (non) violence.  The movie seems to say that even though violence should be avoided, it is sometimes necessary when it’s about fighting oppression.  Nonetheless, it focuses on the main non-violent actions like the Delano grape strike and the Modesto March.

The movie is only showing in one theater in Madison, in Spanish with no subtitles. It’s an interesting experience if Spanish isn’t your first language. With the context, and doing some research beforehand about the political figure, one can easily understand what’s at stake. It can also be a way to practice the language. It is definitely a movie everyone should watch, to learn more about American history and to see a new director emerging.