Chasing Freedom (TV 2004)

A lawyer reluctantly takes on the pro bono asylum case of a woman who has fled the brutal Taliban regieme in Afghanistan and arrived in the United States seeking freedom.

Director:

Don McBrearty

Writer:

Barbara Samuels

Stars:

Juliette Lewis, Layla Alizada, Bruce Gray

1 win & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliette Lewis	...	Libby
Layla Alizada	...	Meena
Bruce Gray	...	Philip Laughton
Michael David Simms	...	Judge
Yanna McIntosh	...	Ruth
Veena Sood	...	Adeena
Brian Markinson	...	Eric Hoffman
Ali Jhon	...	Amir
Aziza Sindhu	...	Deyana
Wajma Soroor	...	Nazira
Gail Hanrahan	...	Shelley
Daniel Libman	...	Kevin
Andrew Misle	...	David
Stacey Zurburg	...	Penny
Rochelle Maitripala	...	Adjufa

Storyline

Inspired by a true story, a self-centered corporate lawyer is forced to take on a pro-bono case to help a young Afghan woman seek refuge from the tyrannical regime of the Taliban. Together the two women take on a brutal legal system to win asylum.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | pro bono | taliban | asylum | afghanistan | 

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Taglines:

History Is Written By The Brave.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kynigontas tin eleftheria

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blueprint Entertainment, Alberta Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Escape from Taliban (2003)

User Reviews

Excellent depiction of our flawed asylum policy

Court TV deserves some kudos for this film. Layla Alizada in her first major role as the desperate asylum applicant fleeing from Taliban-controlled Afghan really makes us care about her plight. The flashback scenes from her past hark back to those clandestinely filmed scenes of brutality toward women that were smuggled out of that country. Her acting is understated and moving. Juliette Lewis' performance as the securities lawyer who is a fish-out-of-water in the New York immigration courts is less convincing, but it doesn't undermine the power of the film too much.

It is a well-done depiction of the many hurdles that our immigration system places on those who manage to escape terrible oppression and make it here without their `papers.' I don't deny the difficulties facing immigration judges in presiding over such a system, but the Bush Administration's policy of automatic detention (read `jail') of asylum applicants (often lengthy) and its removal of sympathetic Board of Immigration Appeals members has made this situation worse.

Every member of Congress ought to see this film-but it is also a compelling story well told.