CROSSING BORDERS: IMMIGRATION IN GLOBAL CINEMA
April 7 - May 19, 2009
Immigration has become a hot-button issue throughout the world in
the 21st century. People are moving beyond their native borders in
unprecedented numbers. Every culture and community has its own diaspora
as Africans and Middle Easterners emigrate to Europe, southern
Europeans move northward into colder climes, Mexicans and Central
Americans trek northwards into the US and Canada, and Chinese move
eastward into the US and Canada. There are mini-immigrations into one
country from an adjoining one, but the cultural changes can often be
just as overwhelming. This series will examine global examples of films
depicting what it means to cross borders – either the difficulties of
the journey to and across frontiers or the jolting shocks of
establishing some foothold in a new country. Since we are all
immigrants from elsewhere or descendants of immigrants leaving Africa
some time within the past 40,000 years, we will begin with a film which
shows a small group of Senegalese emigrants trying to get to Europe,
followed by films about a young Afghan refugee confronting bigotry in
Iran, North African students finding new ways to see themselves through
classic French drama, an elderly North African immigrant dreaming of
having his own business in France, three generations of a
Mexican-American family in Los Angeles, the joys and uncertainties of a
young Korean immigrant in Canada, and the cultural impact of a bridge
finally joining two Argentinean cities. – Chale Nafus, Director of
Programming, Austin Film Society
BORDERS (FRONTIERES)
Tuesday, April 7 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
No matter where we live now, our ancestors originated in Africa. This
series on global immigration fittingly begins with a film about
contemporary Africans trying to make their way to Europe. »Read More
DJOMEH
Tuesday, April 14 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
Often tribal associations trump religious beliefs. Such is the fate of
a young Afghan refugee who falls in love with an Iranian woman.
» read
more
GAMES OF LOVE AND CHANCE (L’ESQUIVE)
Tuesday, April 21 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
Can an 18th century drama interest or even affect the minds and hearts
of a group of French students, most of whom are the children of North
African immigrants?
» read more
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN (LA GRAINE ET LE MULLET)
Tuesday, April 28 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
In his 60s Algerian immigrant Slimane might be considering retiring in
France or returning to his homeland, but instead he pursues a longtime
dream.
» read more
MI FAMILIA (MY FAMILY)
Tuesday, May 5 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
Sweeping chronicle of three generations of a Mexican/Mexican American family in East Los Angeles.
» read more
IN BETWEEN DAYS
Tuesday, May 12 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
The teenage years are difficult anyway, but having to go through all
the complex emotions of that period in a new country is even more
confusing and troubling for a young Korean girl trying to get by in
Canada.
» read more
ON EACH SIDE (A CADA LADO)
Tuesday, May 19 - 7pm @ The Alamo South Lamar
Sometimes borders are internal, either geographically or emotionally.
An unpredictable river in Argentina has prevented easy access between
two towns, but a huge bridge project is about to change all that. »
read more