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Biographical documentary

Dolores (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Dolores (2017) movie poster

Dolores is a 2017 biographical documentary directed by Peter Bratt, starring Dolores Huerta, Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $555,309 worldwide. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
98%
worldwide gross
$555.3K
Echo Score
85
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Dolores (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Peter Bratt
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dolores About?

The premise of Dolores without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This documentary explores the life and activism of Dolores Huerta, who, alongside Cesar Chavez, co-founded the United Farm Workers union. The film chronicles her fight for labor rights and racial equality, while also highlighting her struggle for gender justice within the movement. Through a remarkable career marked by perseverance, three marriages, and eleven children, Huerta becomes a vital figure in interconnected social justice movements, leaving an enduring legacy.

Dolores Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • activist
  • workers' rights
  • year 1959
  • home movies
  • year 1967
  • year 1968
  • union
  • state legislature
  • social justice
  • farm worker
  • pesticide
  • environmental activist
+18 more
  • mother daughter relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • lovechild
  • misogyny
  • new york city
  • strike
  • reference to madison square garden
  • feminism
  • grape
  • boycott
  • united farm workers
  • woman leader
  • year 1973
  • vineyard
  • year 2003
  • presidential medal of freedom
  • 1950s
  • mexican american history
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Cast & crew

Dolores Cast

Dolores Huerta leads the cast, with Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem. Directed by Peter Bratt; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Peter Bratt

One more film directed by Peter Bratt: La mission.

Full filmography
Ratings

Dolores Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Dolores 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (78).

85 /100

Dolores Echo Score Breakdown

The documentary delivers a powerful and informative account of Dolores Huerta’s life and activism. It combines extensive archival materials with structured interviews to provide historical context while maintaining clarity in its narrative flow. Reviewers note its exhilarating emotional resonance and inspiring tone without resorting to hagiography. The pacing remains lively throughout, ensuring engagement from start to finish. Overall, the film offers a compelling and emotionally resonant viewing experience that is both enlightening and accessible.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of direction and craft, the film leverages archival footage and measured editing to create a cohesive visual narrative. It employs clear transitions and a consistent visual style in presenting historical moments. The integration of period material and contemporary interviews is handled with precision. The result is a well-constructed and polished documentary aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character portrayal and emotional depth, the film presents Dolores Huerta as a commanding and multifaceted figure. Interviews convey her warmth and resilience, creating genuine emotional resonance. The documentary balances the personal sacrifices of activism with moments of warmth and insight. Overall, the character dimension feels authentic and compelling.

  • Story & Flow 83

    In terms of storytelling and flow, the documentary offers a clear and engaging narrative arc. It synthesizes diverse archival materials and interviews into a coherent structure, maintaining momentum with measured pacing. While dense in historical detail, the film avoids confusion through logical sequencing. Overall, the story unfolds with clarity and sustained engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, the documentary combines a dynamic soundtrack with evocative visual juxtapositions. The use of period music, including compositions by Carlos Santana, enriches the emotional tone. Archival footage and interviews are presented with clear sound design that complements the narrative. Overall, the sensory elements enhance both immersion and emotional impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    In terms of rewatch value, the film’s depth and inspirational tone invite repeated viewings. Its balanced presentation of historical context and personal moments offers new insights on subsequent watches. While its dense material may require attentive viewing, the emotional resonance remains fresh. Overall, the documentary maintains lasting appeal and encourages further reflection.

Plot

Dolores Plot Summary

What happens in Dolores from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

This documentary traces the life of Dolores Huerta before she became the renowned activist and labor leader she is known as today. It opens in the 1940s and 1950s, painting a portrait of a young Chicana who feels out of place within the conventional expectations of her era. From an early age, she is unsettled by the world around her, witnessing police brutality and other harsh injustices that hint at a lack of true justice and equality. The film also reveals the personal strain of being a young mother, including marriages that did not last, and the sense that something more meaningful is missing in her life.

Full summary

The whole story of Dolores, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Dolores Box Office

Dolores grossed $555,309 worldwide.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$555.3K

US & Canada
$555.3K
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dolores?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who was the community organizer that first mentored Dolores Huerta?

Details

Dolores Also Known As

2 alternative titles: “돌로레스” and “德洛丽丝”.

Also known as
  • 돌로레스
  • 德洛丽丝

Seen Dolores?

FAQ

Dolores FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Dolores, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dolores?

Dolores runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Dolores released?

Dolores was released on September 1, 2017.

Who directed Dolores?

Dolores was directed by Peter Bratt.

More films by Peter Bratt

Who is in the cast of Dolores?

Dolores stars Dolores Huerta, Angela Davis and Gloria Steinem, among 4 credited actors.

How much did Dolores make at the box office?

Dolores grossed $555,309 worldwide.

How is Dolores rated?

Dolores has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does Dolores have a post-credit scene?

No. Dolores has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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