Educational Media Reviews Online

A child running through a barren landscape. Sinister music. A helicopter hovering overhead. Thus begins this film, which offers an examination of the plight of child immigrants from Mexico. The narrator offers facts, statistics, and history, which provides a background to the personal story and emotional center of this film: Abi and Eliezer, children of Maria, who has lived as an illegal immigrant in the United States for ten years. The children and their grandmother attempt to reunite with Maria, but have to give it up when the grandmother breaks her leg. Later, they work with a smuggler to get to Maria.

A number of experts and interested parties are featured as talking heads: Senator Ted Kennedy, journalists, border guards, a Mexican consulate official, humanitarian workers, a pastor, a Minute Men organizer, the Arizona Attorney General, a smuggler, and a superintendent of schools. By combining their commentary with scenes of Abi, Eliezer, and Maria, a total story of all the issues in immigration emerges.

Scenes of border towns, the desert, religious groups, people picked up by the border patrol, nongovernmental border guards (Minute Men), surveillance equipment, and a shrine to those who have died lend depth to the personal story and the broader issue.

The strength of this film lies in its presentation of everyone connected with the story of immigrants, although those sympathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants will find that it enhances that viewpoint and provides arguments for that side. The film pulls no punches in its portrayal of the dangers to the immigrants, the money the U.S. government spends on security and surveillance, and the toll it takes on people on both sides of the border.

Most of the shots are in color, although there are some black and white stills and film that are used. Subtitles are provided for the Spanish dialogue.

This film would be an excellent presentation in college classes, especially sociology. Teachers of advanced high school classes may also want to consider for discussions on multicultural or controversial issues. Public libraries may want to purchase for their DVD collection, as this film would appeal to many. An excellent look at a timely topic.