EXCLUSIVE: Darren Aronofsky has joined the creative team of Dustin Brown’s upcoming feature Solidarity, exploring contemporary migrant realities in the U.S through an intimate portrait of two lives on the margins of L.A., as an executive producer.
Elpidia Carrillo (Salvador) and Mantas Valentiejus (El Freeman) star as a Mexican seamstress and a Lithuanian butcher who struggle to survive as immigrants in LA’s Fashion District, with their parallel lives marked by loss, labor, and unexpected connection.
The feature film expands Brown’s short film of the same name which screened at a slew of festivals including Clermont-Ferrand, Santa Monica and Munich, and also received a BAFTA Student Film nomination.
The original short was sparked by Brown’s meeting with Lithuanian-born Mantas in college. Deeply inspired by Mantas’s personal story, Brown brought it to the big screen with the short.
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“Solidarity is a timely and human story that illuminates the unexpected realities of the immigrant experience in America,” said Aronofsky of the upcoming feature.
“The film immerses us into the everyday lives of its protagonists, revealing a spectrum of joy, pain, and resilience in present-day LA. We’re incredibly proud of what Dustin has done with this film and look forward to sharing it with the world.”
The feature is due to premiere at the L.A.-based Dances With Films festival in June, and Deadline can reveal a first clip above.
Carrillo plays a single mother working a crushing schedule under the thumb of her boss in LA’s garment district. When a young girl is injured in the factory, she makes it her mission to save her from the harsh reality of sweatshop labor.
Valentiejus plays a butcher whose only companion is his dog Jack. After a sudden tragedy, he is forced to confront the brutality of his work. The characters seem distinct but a connection that transcends language and culture develops across the dual narrative.
Carrillo and Valentiejus are joined in the cast by Michael Harney (Orange Is The New Black), Carlos Miranda (The Boroughs) and Montse Hernandez (Jane The Virgin).
A graduate of the American Film Institute Directing Program, Brown’s work is focused on character driven, socially conscious storytelling.
He has created several viral animal rights short films, including Casa de Carne, which received six Telly Awards including Gold for Social Responsibility.
He also collaborated with the Humane Society and Fur Free Alliance on Hide, starring Mena Suvari with music by Billie Eilish. His stop-motion short Super Cow, featuring music by Moby, won Best Short Film at the Santa Monica Film Festival. Most recently, his psychological thriller This Is Not An Ad, surpassed 16 million views online.
“Darren’s ability to find humanity through characters navigating struggle and sacrifice felt like a natural connection to Solidarity,” said Brown.
“We spoke about the influence of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle and its portrayal of immigrant labor. His involvement brings both creative insight and a real vote of confidence in the film, encouraging me to push deeper while staying true to my vision as a filmmaker.”
The film is produced by Brown, Kaiulani Bush, Cat Hobbs and Daniel Leighton. Mark Mannschreck serves as Cinematographer, and Taylor Lipari-Hassett as Composer