Chop Shop (2008)
A raw, neorealist portrait of a young orphan hustling for survival in the junkyard heart of Queens, New York.
Chop Shop - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2008
- Directed by: Ramin Bahrani
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 24m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 27, 2008 (United States), October 15, 2008 (France)
- Production Companies: Muskat Filmed Properties, Noruz Films, Big Beach
- Production Countries: United States of America
Chop Shop - Plot
Alejandro, a tough and ambitious Latino street orphan on the verge of adolescence, lives and works in an auto-body repair shop in a sprawling junkyard on the outskirts of Queens, New York. In this chaotic world of adults, young Alejandro struggles to make a better life for himself and his 16-year-old sister, Isamar.
Chop Shop - Trailer
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Chop Shop - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Ramin Bahrani
Main Cast
- Alejandro Polanco
- Isamar Gonzales
- Ahmad Razvi
- Carlos Zapata
- Rob Sowulski
- Anthony Felton
- Evelisse 'Lilah' Ortiz
- Michael 'Gringo' Nieto
- Carlos Ayala
- Laura Patalano
Writers
- Ramin Bahrani
- Bahareh Azimi
Producers
- Jeb Brody
- Lisa Muskat
- Marc Turtletaub
Chop Shop - FAQs
What is Chop Shop about?
Chop Shop follows Ale, a resourceful twelve-year-old Latino orphan scraping by in the gritty auto-repair yards of Willets Point, Queens. He hustles day and night to save enough money to secure a better future for himself and his teenage sister Isamar, navigating a harsh adult world with remarkable determination.
Is Chop Shop based on a true story?
Chop Shop isn't based on a specific true story, but it's deeply rooted in reality. Director Ramin Bahrani spent months researching Willets Point, Queens — a real neighborhood of auto-repair shops — and cast non-professional locals, giving the film a documentary-like authenticity that blurs the line between fiction and real life.
Where can you stream Chop Shop?
You can stream Chop Shop on the Criterion Channel. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home — so there are plenty of ways to watch this acclaimed indie drama.
Is Chop Shop worth watching?
Absolutely. Critics praised Chop Shop as one of the finest American indie films of its era, with Roger Ebert awarding it four stars and calling it a masterpiece. Its raw, neorealist style and the extraordinary performance by Alejandro Polanco make it a quietly devastating and deeply human experience.
Who directed Chop Shop and what else has he made?
Ramin Bahrani directed Chop Shop. An Iranian-American filmmaker celebrated for his humanist portraits of working-class life, he also made Man Push Cart (2005) and Goodbye Solo (2008), forming an informal trilogy. He later directed 99 Homes (2014) and the HBO adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 (2018).
Who are the main actors in Chop Shop?
The film stars Alejandro Polanco as Ale and Isamar Gonzales as his sister Isamar — both non-professional actors discovered by Bahrani during his research in Willets Point. Ahmad Razvi, Carlos Zapata, and Rob Sowulski round out the cast, lending the film its authentic, lived-in feel.
Where was Chop Shop filmed?
Chop Shop was filmed entirely on location in Willets Point, Queens, New York — a real neighborhood nicknamed 'The Iron Triangle' for its dense concentration of auto-body shops and junkyards. Bahrani shot on the actual streets and workshops, giving the film its unmistakable gritty, documentary-style texture.
Did Chop Shop receive any notable critical recognition?
Yes — Chop Shop earned widespread critical acclaim upon release. Roger Ebert named it one of the best films of 2008, and it appeared on numerous year-end top-ten lists. The film cemented Ramin Bahrani's reputation as one of the most important American independent voices of his generation.
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