“The shrimp that sleeps is carried away by the current.” 

Society has a tendency to glamorize hustle and grind culture, chasing the carrot that is fulfillment from material gains and social prestige. For those with privilege, opportunities, and financial safety nets, this is a voluntary lifestyle where people are met with praise for their hard work. In contrast, there are people who need to hustle to survive, and they are often criticized, shamed, and looked down upon. They do just as much or even more with little to no pay off, working themselves to the bone is a matter of life and death.

Zahida Pirani’s short film El Carrito focuses on Nelly (Eli Zavala), an untrusting street vendor who’s constantly on guard. She works her small tamales cart from dusk till dawn, determined to earn money and improve her circumstances. To further her efforts, she invests into a new cart to work with, forcing her to overcome hesitations and take a leap of faith. Then, everything is taken from her. 

Life has not come easy for Nelly. She doesn’t expect kindness from anyone and sees hospitality as a trap. Her father, played by Jose Febus, is the opposite. He sees life as a glass half full and wants Nelly to breathe easy. That just is not part of her nature. At least not until she finds solace in her community. 

Eli Zavala delivers as Nelly. Her tenseness bleeds onto the screen. Holding the weight of the world on her shoulders, she is bent on knuckling down and bearing the burden alone. She holds disdain against another street vendor, played by Idalia Limón. Zavala’s body language is subtle yet so distinct. She sees this other vendor as a mirror of her own struggle and would rather demonize her than acknowledge their likeness. 

This is a very personal story to Pirani. Using her background in community organizing, she is able to illustrate authenticity by dedicating the film to real women in her hometown of Queens, New York. One woman who was even highlighted as the central figure of Pirani’s documentary short Judith: Portrait of a Street Vendor. She showcases these stories as a means to present her audience with a reality they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to experience. To an even greater extent by casting local non actors. The shop owner who sells Nelle the cart, owns the store in real life

El Carrito demonstrates the struggle of an overlooked community, as well as a reminder that everyone is human and at the end of the day a simple act of kindness goes a long way. 

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 1 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?