The Other Side of Immigration (2009)

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.... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Germano

Writer:

Roy Germano

Storyline

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, filmmaker 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. "There are inevitably real people behind the strident slogans and ideological labels in today's immigration debate. Roy Germano's The Other Side of Immigration does more than any other work to give people otherwise disparaged as 'threatening' and 'illegal' a human face and to reveal the devastating personal effects of U.S. immigration and economic policies on our closest neighbors." - Douglas S. Massey, Princeton University

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Plot Keywords:

immigration | economics | sociology | human rights | poverty | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 April 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roy Germano Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1 / (high definition)

User Reviews

Insightful and interesting

This is an excellent documentary! I live in an area with a large Mexican population, many of them undocumented. I'm the daughter of a farmer who employs immigrants and he has also married into a large Mexican family. This has given me some insight into the many reasons why many Mexicans cross the border, and I am sympathetic to what they have to go through to better their lives. But most people in my area are very unwilling to consider that there are two sides to the story and have a much different view of immigration than I do. I loved that this movie put my thought into words. Now I can just say to them "Go watch this movie. It will open your eyes." Aside from being a very accurate, this documentary is also interesting and thought-provoking. I can't say enough good words about it.