Screening Immigrants

cnredd · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

If you've grown tired of dodging all the Iraq war movies at theaters in recent months, we've got good news: Hollywood appears to be taking on a new issue.We'll give you a couple hints: It's another hot-button topic that's been dominating headlines lately, and it's factored into the plots of 2004's "Maria Full of Grace," 2006's "Fast Food Nation" and last year's "Babel," among others.

Yep, the issue is illegal immigration in the U.S., and you can expect to see it explored on the big screen with increasing frequency in coming months.

Now for the bad news: If two fictionalized movies currently playing are any indication, we may be in for a lot of manipulation.

Both “Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)” and “The Visitor” are focused intently on putting a sympathetic human face on illegal immigration. However, in the process of trying to coerce us into rooting for their illegal-immigrant protagonists, they create unconvincing, idealized characters and oversimplify the vastly complex immigration issue.

...Both “The Visitor” and “Under the Same Moon” answer stereotypes with stereotypes and favor cheap shots over nuanced arguments and fine-grained insights. Their filmmakers forget that it’s impossible to disarm the opposing side by dodging it or caricaturing it; the opponent has to be authentically engaged, as do the supporters.

Myriad films about illegal immigration are on the horizon, including the promising titles “Paraiso Travel,” “Padre Nuestro” and “Crossing Over.” If they want to help audiences really explore the issues, they’ll have to remember that God is in the details, not the sweeping generalizations and oversimplifications.

Oh goody!...

Now that Hollywood learned that trashing troops isn't a moneymker, now they'll change the subject so they can teach the uninformed masses that illegal immigration should be celebrated...

Spencer Collins · #2 (**permalink**) 04-18-2008, 04:36 PM

A world without borders is a neat concept but in reality it would be a disaster! When Hollywood eventually comes to it's senses,these same people will pack their bags and move away as many have already done.They invision a world for the rest of us,they just don't want to live in the trenches with us and face that reality..how convenient for them..

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2008, 09:41 AM

Since a majority of people on each side of the political scene protested the amnesty bill loudly enough to have an effect on its outcome, these film makers will probably lose money in the long run (maybe even the short run?

).
Good. Maybe our activism will send a signal to them as it did to congress and the white house. While they may not make movies about the problems Americans face with illegal immigration, [just as congress didn't try to pass a real bill] at least the yawns and criticisms of their films might shut them the heck up on the subject.

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