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Ale y Yose cover image

Ale y Yose 2020

Highly Recommended

Distributed by The Video Project, 145 - 9th St., Suite 230, San Francisco, CA 94103; 800-475-2638
Produced by Alejandras Matias and Yoselina Bazan
Directed by Erin Semine Kökdil
Streaming, 24 mins



High School - General Adult
DACA; Education; Family; Hispanic Americans; Immigration; Social Justice; Social Studies

Date Entered: 06/02/2021

Reviewed by LaRoi Lawton, Library & Learning Resources Department, Bronx Community College of the City University of New York

If the viewer is not already aware “DACA” (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is a kind of temporary administrative relief from deportation. The purpose of DACA is to give eligible immigrants who came to the United States when they were children, protection from deportation. DACA gives certain undocumented immigrants: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit.

This documentary titled Ale y Yose introduces the viewer to Alejandra Matias aka “Ale” and Yoselina Bazan aka “Yose” two young Latina immigrants, who are both friends and DREAMers from Oakland, California.

These two girls self-document their personal experiences as immigrants with their family and their aspirations and anxieties over a period of six months, reimagining what it means to be a teenage girl in the United States. This documentary aired on PBS in August 2020, as the 8th episode of a series titled “Truly CA”, a showcase of independent documentaries about life in the Golden State.

This film is a somber and real portrayal of what immigrant children go through when they enter and live in the United States. Their lives, their families, and their pain, is brutally illustrated in this short but powerful film. Their aspirations in achieving a better life as they walk the tight rope of American politics, American society, and cultural differences is fascinating to watch. Their ability to succeed, given the obstacles these two young Latina girls, leave the viewer with food for serious thought. There is some profanity in this film so preview before showing to a group.

Awards:
Palm Springs International ShortFest, Youth Jury Award, Young Cineastes; The Breitrose Awards by The Enersen Foundation; Drunken Film Festival Oakland, Audience Award

Published and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Anyone can use these reviews, so long as they comply with the terms of the license.