Chop Shop

The “Iron Triangle”-a dense cluster of auto-body repair shops and junkyards in Queens, New York-is home to 12-year-old orphan Alejandro (or “Ale” for short). In exchange for doing odd jobs-from swiping hubcaps to painting and repairing cars-at one of the auto shops, Ale and his 16-year-old sister Isamar are allowed to sleep in the garage (with the added bonus of access to a fridge full of free soda). But this precocious adolescent has dreams bigger than just getting by. Ale has been saving his hard-earned money to purchase an old mobile food van for himself and his sister. Surely, Ale believes, this purchase will bring all the wealth and prosperity he's always dreamed about. However, as Ale effortlessly navigates his way through the gruff adult world in which he lives, he still has much to learn. In his second film, CHOP SHOP, Ramin Bahrani elicits an amazingly sincere performance out of young actor Alejandro Polanco to expose the challenges and aspirations of this oftentimes overlooked struggle for the American dream. – E.J.B.