Finding Home: International Migration in Media

This powerful 2009 Emmy award-winning documentary, regarding the difficult and daunting journeys that unaccompanied child migrants from Central and South America face while attempting to get to the United States, leaves viewers with a drive to help the children and change the system. The documentary primarily showcases the point of view of four boys, the youngest of whom is 13 years old. Many of them encounter horrific circumstances, such as facing deportation, detention, and arrest. The documentary aims to humanize those who attempt the journey and allows the viewer to understand the great dangers the migrants willingly face to reach their desired destination, no matter their age. This documentary does a tremendous job; it left me tearing up in empathy for the children and a desire to be able to help them. Critics of the documentary say, “Which Way Home may not be political, but it is an incidental indictment of how each of us has failed these children.” The director of the film, Rebecca Cammisa, calls for action and released the movie with a link to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Organization. To learn more, the website can be viewed here: https://refugees.org/

This film is set in Germany. It follows the story of a young Turkish man who immigrated to Germany in search of economic opportunity. It showcases the difficulties the family faces while attempting to keep their Turkish culture alive, while being surrounded by a powerful German culture. The family also struggles to adapt to the many new customs, traditions, and ideas that are so different from where they are from. At the same time, using an array of flashbacks and foreshadowing, the movie discusses the struggles the grandson faces due to never having set foot in a country that his family is so deeply rooted in, and proud of.  This movie does an excellent job of applying a global perspective on migration and the effects migration has on different generations. Migration is a difficult process and the struggles the family face is an amazing example. Complex immigration systems, language barriers, political factors, and loss of community are the main topics discussed in the film. The amazing use of flashbacks allows the audience to see the exact effects migration can have on future generations.

This stunning film follows a young 11-year-old boy from Mexico, named Carlito,  whose mother illegally immigrated from Mexico in search of economic opportunity. He was left behind when he was young and yearns to see his mother again. He undergoes the journey to find her himself, knowing only her mail address. His resilience is constantly tested, but he soldiers on. This movie takes a more romanticized approach to the topic of immigration. Although it simplifies the topic, the audience will still be touched by the little kid’s determination to reach his goal of being reunited with his mother. A 12-year-old immigrant, Leah, gave a speech in 2018 that identifies greatly with the struggles Carlito faced. She explains, “I want to be an example to other kids who are going through the same problems as me. I want to tell kids at the border and all over the country not to give up and fight for their families. We are all human and deserve to be loved and cared for. We are children!” This quote describes the simple truth that many young immigrants, such as Carlito, resonate with: they want to be reunited and live happily with their families.