The Other Side of Immigration will screen as part of the Mayor's Immigrant Heritage Week (April 15-21).
Thurs., April 15 at 7pm: Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk St. at Rivington St. (212-260-4080, www.csvcenter.com). Subway: F, J, M, Z to Essex St.-Delancey.
Sat., April 17 at 3pm: Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk St. at Rivington St. (212-260-4080, www.csvcenter.com). Subway: F, J, M, Z to Essex St.-Delancey.
Sun., April 18 at 1:30pm: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library in the Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, Grand Army Plaza at Flatbush Ave., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-230-2100, www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org). Subway: B, Q to Seventh Ave.; 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza. Wed., April 21 at 2pm: Long Island University-Brooklyn, Room LLC 122, DeKalb and Flatbush Aves., Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-780-4105, www.brooklyn.liu.edu) Subway: B, M, Q, R to DeKalb Ave.
Thurs., April 29: Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn (details TBA, check website).
Background: Based on over 700 interviews in Mexican towns where about half the population has left to work in the United States, "The Other Side of Immigration" asks why so many Mexicans come to the U.S. and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought-provoking, director Roy Germano provides a perspective on undocumented immigration rarely witnessed by American eyes, challenging audiences to imagine more creative and effective solutions to the problem.
Roy Germano, who was born and raised in Louisville, Ky., singlehandedly filmed, edited, directed and produced “The Other Side of Immigration" without a crew, financial backing, or prior filmmaking experience. He holds an M.A. in international relations from the University of Chicago and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Government at The University of Texas at Austin. His research, which has been supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, explores relationships between labor emigration, economic policy, and politics in Mexico. “The Other Side of Immigration” emerged from his fieldwork and is his first film. Germano lives in Brooklyn, NY.
“I hope those who see my film walk away feeling more connected to a population that they may have misunderstood or not known very much about, realizing that most people—Mexican or American, citizen or immigrant—are more similar than we are different, motivated to survive, take care of our families and be recognized for our inherent worth as human beings,” Germano said.
“The Other Side of Immigration” is an official event partner of New York City’s 7th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week (IHW) celebration, April 15-21, 2010. IHW is a city-wide celebration established by Mayor Bloomberg that honors the experiences and contributions of immigrants in New York City. Featured events are designed to build cross-cultural bridges of communication, understanding, and respect amongst all New Yorkers.
|