Jul 24, 2017

4 of the Best Films to Make You Re-Think the Immigrant Experience

By Rebecca Harper / filmsforaction.org
4 of the Best Films to Make You Re-Think the Immigrant Experience
Here are four films that will make you reconsider the immigrant experience and force you to confront your own prejudices.

In 2016 248,000 immigrants came to the UK, with most looking for work or to study. Brexit has forced us to reconsider what immigration means to us and if it's something we can sustain. No matter what side of the fence you fall on, there's no denying the power of art and film to break down these barriers and make us think about the human experience behind the statistics. Here are four films that will make you reconsider the immigrant experience and force you to confront your own prejudices.

  1. The Godfather Part II

The popular sequel to 1972 crime thriller The Godfather, The Godfather Part II tells the immigration experience of mafia don Vito Corleone. The film begins at a funeral in southern Italy, where a young Vito’s family is murdered. So he doesn’t suffer the same fate Vito escapes to America. As Vito grows up in New York becomes involved in crime with other immigrants which lead to his issues with the local mafia.

  1. The Terminal

Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) travels from Krakozhia to JFK International Airport but hits a snag with border control when he arrives. A Civil war had broken out in his home country while he was travelling and the United States no longer recognised his country. He was denied access to US soil and wasn’t permitted to fly home. The story follows Viktor as he comes up with creative ways to fund his stay in the terminal while staying hidden from Border and Customs. Subsequently, Viktor builds relationships with sympathetic airport employees.

  1. Babel

This highly complex film follows four stories from across the world. There is a mute and deaf teenager whose father is a suspect in police investigations into a weapon sale. There are two American tourists who come into issues when one of them is shot on a tour bus in Morocco. There is a farmer, also in Morocco, who purchases a gun to kill predators who attack his goatherd. Unfortunately, his young son accidentally shoots an American tourist and the family are chased by investigating police. Finally, a nanny is taking a vacation to go to a wedding in Mexico but hits problems when she returns to America and is threatened with deportation.

  1. In America

A young Irish family, who tragically lost a son, are emigrating to New York as their father attempts to carve out a career in stage acting. The film illustrates the struggles as they illegally cross the Canadian border into America. Then on little money, the family turn up to a run-down apartment in a rough area. Both parents source low paid job and slowly they attempt to fix up the apartment into a home. However, they hit further financial difficulties when they are expecting another child. The film is rich with the emotional strain of immigration.

For many, heading to a safer country, qualifying for British citizenship, gaining a Green Card or even just making it safely across the sea offers a better life, but there are plenty of people who want to stand in the way on this. It's crazy to think that where you were born can decide the life you get to lead, the opportunities you will have and how you will be perceived. When a rich person moves abroad, they get to label themselves as an expat, but a poor person is slapped with the immigrant label. Immigration isn't an easy topic to talk about, but it's an important conversation that we need to have if we are ever to be able to move forward.

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