An intimate portrait of the struggles and perseverance of young immigrants coming of age in a rarely seen New York City. Set in a community workshop in Bushwick, a Latino immigrant and low-income neighborhood of Brooklyn, the documentary follows three young people who are studying filmmaking. Their gripping, self-exploratory films-excerpted throughout the documentary and each exhibiting a distinct voice and style-reveal the confidential perceptions of these youngsters who dramatically straddle the opposing cultures of the U.S. and their homelands. As filmmaking encourages them to reflect on their identities, their family situations and the elusiveness of the "American Dream," the documentary poignantly portrays how these young adults are triumphing over the barriers of illegality, economic hardship, discrimination, family fracture, cultural loss and social alienation.
—Lauren Mucciolo