Educational Media Reviews Online

Jacaltenango, Guatemala and Jupiter, Florida are two towns separated by 3000 miles yet joined by the stories of the people who are “of two hearts.” Guatemala’s 1980s brutal civil war with its death squads forced many of the Mayan people to flee for their lives. Today many travel the perilous journey across Mexico and the Sonora Dessert in search of economic opportunity. Many of those travelers ended up in this small town in Florida seeking work. Because their gathering site by a busy city street created problems in the neighborhood, the city came up with a unique solution—El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center. A public-private partnership—the Center is housed in a city owned building but is staffed with residents who serve as fundraisers and volunteers.

Brother Towns / Pueblos Hermanos listens to all sides of the immigration issue: those who leave Guatemala, the anxious family members left behind, the Americans who welcome the strangers, and those who feel the newcomers present a risk to the United States. It’s hard not to by sympathetic to Guatemalan workers who simply want to provide a better life for their children and families. Yet, at the same time, the American immigration experience has been one of assimilation and many undocumented workers hope eventually to return home.

Brother Towns / Pueblos Hermanos is an excellent resource for understanding the legal complexities and the humanitarian aspects of the immigration issue. The immigrant workers are thoughtful and perceptive in their analysis of the problems of their homeland and of the difficulty of their lives here in the United States. Both those supportive of the workers and those strenuously opposed to illegal immigration present their cases with clarity and detail. The cinematography is excellent and the music is at times both plaintive and evocative. Highly recommended for collections and a must have for those desiring a deeper appreciation of all sides of this critical issue.