Movies are wonderful –  for watching, for thinking about, and for escaping – just for a little while – everything else around us.

VOCABULARY:

Persistence – n., sticking with and doing something you believe in

Depict – v., to show, to tell about

Struggle – n., difficulty, a hard time doing something

Platforms – n., different internet sites and sources for watching movies and video

Defeating – v., to overpower, to conquer

Repressive – adj., when freedoms are limited

Political unrest – n., troubled government, conflict among leaders

Forcibly displaced – adj., forced to move out of one’s home

Intimate – adj., private, personal

Uprising – n., a movement that seeks to overthrow an established government or situations

Siblings — n.pl., brothers and sisters

Soon-to-be – adj., in the near future

brutal — adj., cruel, very mean

Khmer Rouge – n., a radical Communist group that ruled Cambodia in the ‘70s and killed millions of people

Diligence – n., strong and consistent effort

Empire – n., a large territory ruled by a single ruler

Access — n., entry, opening

Especially interesting, to us, are movies about the immigrant experience: stories of hope and courage and persistence, above all. To leave one’s home country, no matter the circumstances, is a brave and often dangerous step to take. Here are 6 films that depict and celebrate that struggle. All are available to borrow from the New York Public Library (free), or can be streamed on various platforms (cost about $4).

1. MINARI

Minari | Official Trailer HD | A24

A Korean American family searches for their American dream on a farm in Arkansas, a state in the deep South of the USA. They face many challenges in their new life in the Ozark Mountains, but finally realize the strength of their family, no matter where home is.

2. PERSEPOLIS

Persepolis | Official Trailer (2007)

This animated film tells the story of Marjane Satrapi, a yung girl whose family dreams of defeating the Shah in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. However, as Marji grows up, she sees how repressive the new Iran is. Her parents send her to study in Europe, but when she returns home, she finds that both she and her homeland have changed too much.

3. ENCANTO

Disney’s Encanto | Official Trailer

Surprised to see this Disney classic among movies about immigrants? After being forced out of their Colombian homeland by political unrest, the Madrigal family is blessed with magical gifts. When the family’s powers begin to fade, Mirabel – the only member of the family who was not granted a special ability – is the one to bring everyone together and save the magic. At the center of Encanto, the fear of being forcibly displaced again is part of this sweet story.

4. FOR SAMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsvBqtg2RM0
FOR SAMA is an intimate journey into the female experience of war. A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria. She falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while terrible and life-changing conflict swirls around her. Should she leave to save her daughter? It is an impossible choice.

5. FLEE

FLEE – Official Trailer
In FLEE, Amin’s life has been defined by his past and a secret he’s kept for over 20 years. Forced to leave his home country of Afghanistan as a young child with his mother and siblings, Amin now struggles with how his past will affect his future in Denmark and the life he is building with his soon-to-be husband.

6. THE DONUT KING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2jXx0OP88
An immigrant story with a twist, The Donut King follows the journey of Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy, who escaped the brutal Khmer Rouge and arrived in California in the 1970s. Through a mixture of diligence and luck, he built a multi-million dollar donut empire up and down the West Coast. A tale of success and loss – who gets access to the American Dream, and what happens when you achieve it.

Happy viewing!

Don’t forget the popcorn!