Translators, a documentary short film directed by Rudy Valdez, tells the story of three Latino children – Harye, Densel, and Virginia – who serve as translators for their non-English speaking parents. Inspired by his own experiences growing up in his family’s convenience store where his parents often acted as translators, Valdez wanted to shed light on the importance of translation services for immigrant families. The film premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival and was later screened at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood.
In the film, Harye, a 13-year-old girl, helps her parents communicate while obtaining identification and accompanying her sister, who has medical issues, to the doctor’s office. Despite feeling nervous about translating, Harye sees it as an opportunity to strengthen her bond with her parents and show her gratitude for everything they have done for her. Through her translations, the film captures the challenges and triumphs of immigrant families in a new country.
U.S. Bank partnered with Valdez to support the creation of Translators as part of their Access Commitment initiative, aimed at addressing wealth disparities. As part of this initiative, U.S. Bank developed a Spanish-language banking app called Asistente Inteligente to assist customers with their banking needs. The decision to focus on young translators was inspired by bank managers who noticed older immigrants relying on younger family members for translation services.
The reception to Translators has been overwhelmingly positive, with Hollywood figures like John Leguizamo and Leslie Grace praising the film for its portrayal of immigrant experiences and the importance of translation services. Leguizamo, who has also acted as a translator for his relatives, expressed his admiration for the film’s heartwarming depiction of immigrant families and their sacrifices for their children.
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Speaking about the film, Greg Cunningham, U.S. Bank’s chief diversity officer, highlighted the universal nature of the story portrayed in Translators. He emphasized that many people can relate to the experience of translating for their elders and that the film serves as a reminder that the story of immigrants is the story of America.
Translators aims to raise awareness about the existence of 11 million child translators in the U.S. alone and the contributions they make to their families and communities. Leslie Grace stressed the need to amplify these stories and create resources to alleviate the burden on young translators. She believes that by bringing attention to the struggles and achievements of young translators, other companies and organizations can develop tools and resources to support them.
Valdez intentionally chose to focus on the positive aspects of the children’s lives rather than portraying them as victims. He wanted to showcase their agency, their voices, and their hope. These children are not defined by the challenges they face but by their resilience and their capacity to inspire.
Translators is a 20-minute documentary that can be watched for free on translatorsfilm.com. Through its heartfelt portrayal of the experiences of young translators, the film encourages empathy and understanding for immigrant families who rely on their children to navigate a new language and culture. It serves as a reminder of the importance of access to translation services and the impact they have on communities and individuals’ lives.
