El Pueblo Salva al Pueblo (We Save Us)
El Pueblo Salva al Pueblo (We Save Us)
Rodrigo Olivar
Rodrigo Olivar
We Save Us (El Pueblo Salva al Pueblo) is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of a group of Indigenous Mexican delivery workers in New York City who, after enduring a surge of violent robberies and receiving little societal support, turn to the traditions of their hometown to protect one another. Drawing on a familiar model of collective care, they form a community guard—an organized network built from trust, care, and collective power. What begins as self-protection evolves into something far stronger. The workers build new forms of collective power: creating online networks to stay connected across the city, launching a Facebook group where they share live-streamed bike recoveries, a space to share their daily struggles, and firsthand accounts—reclaiming their narrative on their own terms. They also create a network for real-time alerts during emergencies, forming a digital lifeline that now connects more than 1,500 delivery workers across multiple boroughs. Over time, these networks grow into a larger community, raising funds for funerals, supporting injured workers, and organizing repatriations for families who cannot do it alone.
Beyond a story of stolen bikes, WE SAVE US asks who is seen, who is valued, and who is allowed to feel safe in a city that relies on these workers every day. Their fight is not only about recovering bikes; it is about reclaiming dignity, visibility, and the right to shape their own story. The film blends cinematic vérité with on-body cameras, social media content, and motion graphics to create an immersive portrait of workers who keep New York running yet remain invisible. It is a thrilling sensory experience, immersing viewers in a world rarely seen, yet happening all around us. The story unfolds through a cinematic camera, interwoven with voice-over interviews and enriched by diverse visual elements: body cameras, archival footage, 360-degree shots, news clips, motion graphics, drone imagery, and phone recordings. WE SAVE US reframes narratives of labor and justice—revealing not only the hardships these workers endure, but also the extraordinary power of community to imagine and build change.
Documentary Film, Experimental Film, Film/Moving Image, Narrative Film
2026
About Rodrigo Olivar
Brooklyn, NY
Rodrigo Olivar is a multidisciplinary director from Mexico City, based in Brooklyn, New York for over a decade. His work brings multicultural narratives to the forefront, exploring identity, resilience, and community through bold, cinematic storytelling. He holds a BFA in Media Studies from Universidad Iberoamericana (CDMX) and an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts (New York). For more than eight years, he served as Head of Video at Remezcla, the leading U.S. Latin digital publisher and lifestyle agency. During his tenure, he directed and produced over one hundred projects across documentaries, branded content, and live music productions. He directed the first-ever Super Bowl commercial for a taco truck and led Remezcla to its first Webby Award for a Latino publication. His work has earned recognition from the Webby Awards, Shorty Awards, and Clio Awards, among others. Rodrigo’s films have screened at major festivals including the New Orleans Film Festival, NYLFF, and the Morelia International Film Festival. His latest short, Thank You, Have a Nice Day, won the MAX Latino Short Film Competition. He is the recipient of the 2025 Jerome Foundation Filmmaker Grant. Through his work, Rodrigo explores the intersections of culture, identity, and resilience, crafting visually compelling stories that connect communities and spark dialogue.
Rodrigo Olivar is a multidisciplinary director from Mexico City, based in Brooklyn, New York for over a decade. His work brings multicultural narratives to the forefront, exploring identity, resilience, and community through bold, cinematic storytelling. He holds a BFA in Media Studies from Universidad Iberoamericana (CDMX) and an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts (New York). For more than eight years, he served as Head of Video at Remezcla, the leading U.S. Latin digital publisher and lifestyle agency. During his tenure, he directed and produced over one hundred projects across documentaries, branded content, and live music productions. He directed the first-ever Super Bowl commercial for a taco truck and led Remezcla to its first Webby Award for a Latino publication. His work has earned recognition from the Webby Awards, Shorty Awards, and Clio Awards, among others. Rodrigo’s films have screened at major festivals including the New Orleans Film Festival, NYLFF, and the Morelia International Film Festival. His latest short, Thank You, Have a Nice Day, won the MAX Latino Short Film Competition. He is the recipient of the 2025 Jerome Foundation Filmmaker Grant. Through his work, Rodrigo explores the intersections of culture, identity, and resilience, crafting visually compelling stories that connect communities and spark dialogue.