"60 Miles East"
60 Miles East is a movie that documents the real-life journey of 27 Dominican immigrants efforts to cross the shark-infested waters of the Mona to get to Puerto Rico. The subjects in the film are real and the event itself proceeds before the camera unscripted and unplanned. The filmmakers, risking their lives in the process, capture the hope and despair of the immigrants who risk all to find a better life. A harrowing film about corruption, desperate courage and the will to live. This movie is in Spanish and contains English sub-titles.
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"Under the Same Moon"
The story of a mother-son and their fight against a reality that they do not wish, but that nevertheless it happens. The mom of Carlitos has been in the United States for four years working illegally try to make money to send her son and the boy of nine years desires to be with her. Carlitos is being taken care of by his grandmother, but when she passes away, he decides to undertake the trip in search of his mother. For this, his must arrive at L.A. where his mother is before Sunday in the morning that is when Rosary (the mother) usually gives him a phone call. And thus we watch all the struggles which the young boys goes through, suffering by the situations that any person whom wishes to arrive with the gringos can suffer; but even so, the young boy leans on friends who he meets on his journey, he demonstrates to everyone his bravery and determination that characterize him in the search to be
with his mother.
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Both of these films seem as moving as you pointed out, Ana. It ladens my heart that in order to attain a better life - a life impossible of acheiving in countries like the Dominican Republic (unless you have strong connections to officials or to someone with money) - one must, literally, risk it all. What is perhaps more upsetting is that 2nd and 3rd generations of immigrants are sometimes unaware of the struggles their grandparents or great-grandparents endured in order to provide that life for them. I cannot say I am innocent of this. I, too, sometimes take being in college or sleeping in comfortable quarters for granted. Films like this not only help educate and enlighten individuals against immigration, but also remind individuals like myself, a grandson of immigrant grandparents and son of an immigrant father, of the journey taken by my ancestors. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAna I agree with you these two film are very moving and demonstarte the struggles that one goes through when tryingto enter this country. When I watched "60 Miles East" I could not beleieve all the stories that these people had and how they all shared the number one interest for coming to this country to help their family and provide a better futre for their children. I loved that you actually included these films in your blog.
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