About the film... Based on over 700 interviews in Mexican towns where about half the population has left to work in the United States, The Other Side of Immigration asks why so many Mexicans come to the U.S. and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought-provoking, filmmaker Roy Germano provides a perspective on undocumented immigration rarely witnessed by American eyes, challenging audiences to imagine more creative and effective solutions to the problem. Learn more.
55 minutes / HD / in Spanish & English with English & Spanish subtitles
Written, directed, shot, edited and produced by Roy Germano
with music from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst, and Cuarteto Latinoamericano
Praise for The Other Side of Immigration...
“There are inevitably real people behind the strident slogans and ideological labels in today's immigration debate. Roy Germano's The Other Side of Immigration does more than any other work to give people otherwise disparaged as ‘threatening’ and ‘illegal’ a human face and to reveal the devastating personal effects of U.S. immigration and economic policies on our closest neighbors.”
- Douglas S. Massey, Princeton University
“The Other Side of Immigration is an intelligent, thought-provoking, beautiful, and caring look at the costs of policies in Mexico and the United States that lead to illegal immigration by so many. It is an understatement to say that the film has made me think...”
- Liza Finkel, Portland State University
“I recommend The Other Side of Immigration with enthusiasm for a wide range of audiences, including community groups, higher education institutions, public schools, and policy makers.”
- Scott Fletcher, Lewis & Clark College
“The humanity oozes from this film - from the sadness of the mother who has not seen her daughter in seven years to the anguish of would-be mayor trying to deal with the endemic corruption holding back much needed development... It would be no surprise to me to see his work as a source of inspiration for policy makers on both sides of the border.”
- Bill Davies, American University
