Educational Media Reviews Online

Liberia is a West African nation that until fairly recently had been torn by many years of brutal, civil war. Rosevelt Henderson was one of the victims of that conflict, who like so many others, has made his way to America to start a new life for himself and his family. This film chronicles his struggle and that of his loved ones to adapt to life in the United States, and both the rewards and disappointments that are part of that struggle.

The Liberian civil war was a long and savage one, which lead to the death of many people, and the torture and disfigurement of many others. One of those was Rosevelt Henderson, a simple civil servant, who was captured and tortured by one of the warring factions. Fearing for his life, and terrified by the carnage he saw all around him, he tried to flee the country with his family. Unfortunately, only he, his daughter and his two sons were able to get out. His pregnant wife Frances had to be left behind.

As the film opens Rosevelt and his children are living in Chicago, and struggling to make ends meet. Even though he earned an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering while in Liberia, it has not been accepted by employers in the United States. As a consequence the only work he can find is low paying, service and manufacturing jobs, which he can only hold on to for a short period of time. He is laid-off more than once during the course of the film, not for poor performance but because his employers have run out of work for him! When he can find work, he has to have two jobs so he can make enough to support himself and his three children. What little spare time he has he devotes to improving his education. He is usually tired, and sleeps only a few hours a night. It would be almost impossible for him to get by were it not for his relatives in Chicago, who watch his children when they are not in school and he is at work. He misses his wife a great deal, and works tirelessly to bring her and their little girl to America. He is well aware of how difficult his life is, and often comments that America requires that you have to work hard to get by. He is also somewhat bitter that he’s had, for all intents and purposes, to start his education all over again! Nevertheless he is happy to be in the United States. Here there is peace, and opportunities that would never be available to him in his homeland.

Eventually, after almost two years apart, Frances arrives in Chicago with their daughter. The whole family is together again at last! Their mutual fears that their long separation would destroy their relationship now seem unfounded. Frances is able to find work, and though it pays very little, it brings desperately needed cash to the household and relieves Rosevelt of the burden of being the sole breadwinner. Their oldest daughter and two sons re-establish their relationship with their Mother, and things finally start to look up for the family. The Henderson’s are very religious, and they thank God for their good fortune. Rosevelt feels he is blessed just to be alive. Though to most Americans the life they lead may seem hard, and their surroundings meager, they feel lucky to be where they are. They are happy to just be together and living in a country free of civil war.

While this film gives valuable insights into the Liberian Civil War, its greatest value is in the glimpse it offers the viewer into the lives of new migrants to the United States, be they from Africa or anywhere else. It also reminds those of us who have had comfortable middle-class lives in the United States, to count our blessings. Compared too much of the rest of the world we are an incredibly fortunate people, who are provided with security and opportunities not frequently available elsewhere. When our lives seem hard, either because of economic or personal problems, it is sometimes valuable to remember that all too obvious fact!

The film consists of interviews with Rosevelt and Frances, and frequent glimpses into their lives and those of their family. Both speak English, but it is so heavily accented that subtitles are provided to give clarity to what they are saying. The pace of this film is good, and it is structured in an engaging and informative way. There is no narration.