Educational Media Reviews Online

The aptly titled New Americans gives an intimate and exceptionally detailed account of the realities that face legal immigrants from Dominican Republic, Nigeria, Mexico, India, and Palestine. The overall tone is one of hope through adversity. While some of the families and individuals presented in the film are indeed fleeing conditions of squalor and/or persecution. It also implies that the “lucky ones” with a special skill or talent (as in the cases of the minor league baseball player from the Dominican Republic and the technician from India) are afforded the opportunity to legally immigrate to the U.S. and live the dream. Each family is given a resounding amount of attention, exploring the immigrants’ experiences in leaving their homeland, their motivations, the reactions from their extended families, the economic consequences of their plans, as well as the aftermaths. The film brings the immigration experience to a remarkably personal and enthralling level. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the film exhibits the actual processes of paper work, interviews, and criteria needed before one may set foot in the U.S. In particular, it shows the continual trials of a Mexican family trying to meet the requirements to obtain clearance for the entire family.

While it is seemingly not a conspicuous selling point of this film, this work could be valued simply on the basis of its gritty and revealing insight into the recruitment process of major league baseball in the Dominican Republic. Here, the audience sees the trials, the opportunities, the intense competition, the potential for overnight success and the failure for these athletes. Similarly, its tremendous value could stand solely on its lush expositions of culture and rituals in the aforementioned regions. The audience sees the pageantry of dances and celebrations in Palestine and India. The film concludes with a both heart-warming and, at times, heart wrenching epilogue, as well as a complimenting “Where are they now?” slideshow.

The New Americans was brilliantly produced, with excellent camerawork, including many high angle shots and a minimum of panning. The film makers included a genius and purposeful tool in the DVD menu, enabling viewers to select stories by country. While the standard feature intertwines the stories of the would-be Americans, one may chose to view a continuous rendering of the story of the Dominican baseball players, for example. This is simply a phenomenal work in scope and execution.