LA AMERICANA

LA AMERICANA

    Price: $310.00

    Code: 2343

    Directed by Nicholas Bruckman
    2008, 65 minutes
    Purchase: $310 Classroom Rental: $125


    When nine-year-old Carla suffers a life-threatening accident, her mother, Carmen, must leave her behind and make the dangerous and illegal journey from Bolivia to the U.S., where she hopes to earn enough to save her daughter's life. Working in New York to support Carla's medical needs, Carmen struggles in vain to legalize her immigration status, and wrestles with the prospect of never seeing her daughter again. Then, after six years of separation, Congress proposes "amnesty" legislation that could allow Carmen and Carla to be reunited at last...

    An intimate and heartbreaking story, La Americana shows how immigration policy affects families on both sides of the border, putting a human face on this timely and controversial issue. Winner of multiple awards at film festivals across the country, La Americana is now being used as the centerpiece for a nationwide campaign to engage and inspire audiences to dialogue about immigrants' rights and immigration reform.

    Filmed across three countries in a captivating cinematic narrative, La Americana is Carmen's story, and the story of millions of illegal immigrants who make the difficult decision to leave their families behind to pursue the elusive American dream.

    Subjects & Collections



    Festivals & Awards

    * Winner, Best Documentary New York Latino Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Best Documentary, Ojai Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Best Documentary Urbanworld Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Special Mention of the Jury, Los Angeles Latino Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Jury & Audience Awards Cine Las Americas Film Festival, 2008
    * Winner, Best Documentary Orlando Hispanic Film Festival, 2009



    Reviews

    “Three and a half stars. Highly recommended. A timely documentary… Takes an intensely personal look at U.S. immigration policy, focusing on the experiences of one woman to convey both the aspirations and hardships of undocumented workers.” - Video Librarian

    La Americana draws a bead on the brutal effect U.S. immigration policy has on families… A compelling and intimate portrait of a heart-wrenching case. This video is a needed document for the debate… Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries with representation of Latin American studies, immigration studies, human rights, international relations, and U.S. domestic policy.” - Educational Media Reviews Online

    "Refreshing, ambitious, and important." - Caitlin Graham, The Feminist Review

    "Devastating. Shows firsthand how the political affects the personal." - Sun Sentinel

    "Surprisingly poignant and effecting." – Baltimore City Paper

    "Smart... [has] a sense of weight and historical importance" - Austin Chronicle

    “Expertly weaves the contemporary immigration debate into the tale of this unforgettable woman." - Filmmaker Magazine