Gilbert Gonzalez, Chicano/Latino studies professor, and Vivian Price, UCI political science Ph.D. alumnus, received the Cinelatino Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2010 Los Angeles Latino Film Festival for “Harvest of Loneliness: The Bracero Program.” In the award-winning documentary, the pair explore the historical accounts of migrant Mexican farm workers brought into the U.S. from 1942-1964 under the temporary contract worker program known as the Bracero Program.

“The Bracero Program is an example of a guest worker program that was implemented solely to ensure accessible, cheap, controlled and disposable labor with little regard for the negative impact it had on Mexican families involved,” Gonzalez explained in a Q&A prior to the film’s premiere at UCI Film and Video Center’s Cosecha Latina series in May. “As we explore new guest worker propositions in current immigration policy discussions, program intent must be scrutinized in order to ensure the best interests of all involved parties are taken into account, and lessons learned from the Bracero Program are a good place to start.”
 
“Harvest of Loneliness” was one of more than 91 films presented at the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival August 19-25, and one of only two to receive an award.  The Best Documentary recognition carries a $1,000 cash prize and was presented to the co-directors at the close of the weeklong festival.

The documentary will be screening in Spain and France this fall, as well as in festivals and universities around the U.S. Click here for more information and contact details.