Films about immigration often delve into the experiences of individuals and families as they move from one country to another. These stories can explore the reasons for migration such as economic opportunities, escape from conflict or persecution, or the desire to reunite with family. These narratives might also touch on the challenges immigrants face, including adapting to new cultures, dealing with xenophobia or legal hurdles, and the struggle to maintain their own identity. Immigration films can range from deeply personal dramas to broader sociopolitical commentaries, highlighting the human aspects of a widely debated topic.
Here is a list of films about immigration with a brief description of each:
“El Norte”, 1983
Director: Gregory Nava
This film narrates the journey of a brother and sister who flee Guatemala after a government massacre of their village. They travel north through Mexico with dreams of a better life in the United States, only to find a different set of challenges on arrival.
Starring: Ernesto Gómez Cruz, David Villalpando, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Alicia del Lago, Mike Gomez, Jose Martin Ruano, Stella Quan, Heraclio Zepeda, Emilio Gomez Ozuna, Daniel Lemus Valenzuela;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 141 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “El Norte” on the website imdb.com
“An American Tail”, 1986
Director: Don Bluth
An animated musical adventure, it tells the story of Fievel Mousekewitz and his Russian-Jewish mouse family who immigrate to the United States to escape cat persecution.
Starring: Erica Yohn, Nehemiah Persoff, Amy Green, Phillip Glasser, Christopher Plummer, John Finnegan, Will Ryan, Hal Smith, Pat Musick, Cathianne Blore;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: animation, musical, drama, comedy, adventure, family;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 80 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “An American Tail” on the website imdb.com
“The Joy Luck Club”, 1993
Director: Wayne Wang
Based on Amy Tan's novel, the film features the lives of Chinese-American women and their immigrant mothers, exploring the generational and cultural gaps between them.
Starring: Kieu Chinh, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu, Ming-Na Wen, Tamlyn Tomita, Lauren Tom, Rosalind Chao, Chao Li Chi, Melanie Chang;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 139 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “The Joy Luck Club” on the website imdb.com
“In America”, 2002
Director: Jim Sheridan
This Irish indie film follows a young family as they move to New York City and try to adjust to a new life in a tough neighborhood after losing a child.
Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger, Neal Jones, Randall Carlton, Ciaran Cronin, Djimon Hounsou, Juan Carlos Hernández, Nye Heron;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 105 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “In America” on the website imdb.com
“Dirty Pretty Things”, 2002
Director: Stephen Frears
Set in London, this film dives into the underground world of illegal immigrants, where a Nigerian immigrant and a Turkish chambermaid uncover a dangerous business at the hotel where they work.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sergi López, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Wong, Zlatko Buric, Kriss Dosanjh, Israel Aduramo, Yemi Goodman Ajibade, Nizwar Karanj;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Dirty Pretty Things” on the website imdb.com
“The Terminal”, 2004
Director: Steven Spielberg
This dramedy, inspired by true events, stars Tom Hanks as an Eastern European man who becomes stuck in New York's JFK International Airport when his homeland erupts in a coup, leaving him with a passport from nowhere.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci, Chi McBride, Diego Luna, Barry Shabaka Henley, Kumar Pallana, Zoe Saldana, Eddie Jones, Jude Ciccolella;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “The Terminal” on the website imdb.com
“Babel”, 2006
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
A multilingual drama that explores the interconnected stories of characters from different backgrounds, including a Moroccan family, a Mexican nanny working illegally in America, and a deaf Japanese teenager, each dealing with their own forms of isolation and barriers.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Koji Yakusho, Rinko Kikuchi, Adriana Barraza, Elle Fanning, Nathan Gamble, Michael Peña, Clifton Collins Jr.;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 143 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Babel” on the website imdb.com
“A Better Life”, 2011
Director: Chris Weitz
Focuses on the life of an undocumented Mexican gardener in Los Angeles as he strives to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while trying to give him opportunities he never had.
Starring: Demián Bichir, Eddie «Piolin» Sotelo, Joaquín Cosio, José Julián, Nancy Lenehan, Gabriel Chavarria, Bobby Soto, Chelsea Rendon, Trampas Thompson, Tim Griffin;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
“Brooklyn”, 2015
Director: John Crowley
A romantic drama set in the 1950s, following an Irish immigrant's journey to New York, her experiences of homesickness, love, and the struggle to forge a new life while being torn between two countries.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Brid Brennan, Jane Brennan, Fiona Glascott, Jessica Paré, Eileen O'Higgins;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Brooklyn” on the website imdb.com
“Dheepan”, 2015
Director: Jacques Audiard
This French film illustrates the experience of a Tamil freedom fighter who flees to France with a woman and a girl posing as his family, as they try to build a life for themselves amidst the violence of the Parisian suburbs.
Starring: Jesuthasan Antonythasan, Kalieaswari Srinivasan, Claudine Vinasithamby, Vincent Rottiers, Faouzi Bensaïdi, Marc Zinga, Bass Dhem, Franck Falise, Joséphine de Meaux, Jean-Baptiste Pouilloux;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “Dheepan” on the website imdb.com
“The Immigrant”, 2023
Director:
Set in 1920s New York, this film tells the story of a Polish Catholic woman who is forced into prostitution while trying to save her sister from an illness on Ellis Island.
Starring: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Mastro, Abdel Qissi, Islam Avurkhanov, Jean-Pierre Schillings, Anzor Membatyrov, Sharip Habibov;
Production year: 2023;
Genre: action, crime;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 0;
These films provide a lens into the various aspects of immigration, highlighting both the personal and communal impact it has on society and the individuals involved.
In conclusion, films about immigration play a pivotal role in capturing the multifaceted experiences of those who embark on a journey toward new horizons. Through the lens of diverse filmmakers, audiences are given a poignant portrayal of the struggles, hopes, and dreams that characterize the immigrant narrative. These cinematic works not only serve as a mirror reflecting the societal issues and tensions inherent in the process of migration but also as a bridge fostering empathy and understanding across cultural divides. Whether it is the pursuit of the American Dream shown in “El Norte” or the heart-wrenching separation of families depicted in “The Other Side of Hope,” these films are a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity in the face of adversity. They challenge viewers to confront the complexities of identity, belonging, and community in a world that is constantly evolving through the movement of its people.
