Dolores

This effective, lively documentary comes across as heartfelt, even a labor of love. Dolores covers an important chapter in recent American history that's been largely driven past by most school buses: the labor and civil rights struggles of (mostly migrant) farm workers. Cesar Chavez is the best-known name to champion that cause, but Huerta was there every step of the way, too; she even co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with him. Huerta's story is one of perseverance and dogged determination in the extreme. Her successes have earned her endless commendations and a revered place in Mexican-American history.

Filmmaker Peter Bratt has assembled powerful footage to illustrate Huerta's many decades of activism, including a host of comments (not all flattering) by luminaries of her times. These include not only colleagues, but presidents and civil rights leaders, as well as commentators attempting to dismiss her. The film stops short of canonizing Huerta: It affords a fair amount of time to her sometimes-prickly personality and her unconventional family choices. From all accounts, she devoted more of herself to the struggle than to her 11 children, and the human cost of that decision is addressed. The result is a portrait of the sacrifice, priorities, and energy necessary to accomplish great things. It should be an eye-opener for many families and offer rich fodder for discussion.