Films About Migrants
Films about migrants often explore the complex narratives of individuals and families who leave their homelands in search of a better life. These stories can encompass themes of struggle, resilience, identity, and the challenges faced in adapting to new cultures. They provide poignant insights into the experiences of migration, shedding light on the diverse reasons behind these journeys—whether they be economic hardship, conflict, or the pursuit of dreams. Through powerful storytelling, these films invite audiences to empathize with the journeys of migrants and understand the broader socio-political contexts that shape their lives.
List of Films About Migrants
“The Kite Runner”, 2007
Director: Marc Forster
Based on Khaled Hosseini's novel, this film follows the journey of Amir, a young boy from Afghanistan, who flees to the United States during the Soviet invasion. It explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and redemption as Amir confronts his past.
Starring: Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni, Shaun Toub, Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada, Zekeria Ebrahimi, Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada, Mir Mahmood Shah Hashimi, Homayon Ershadi, Nabi Tanha, Elham Ehsas, Bahram Ehsas, Tamim Nawabi, Mohamad Nabi Attai, Mohamad Nadir Sarwari, Mustafa Haidari, Ahmad Yasar Shir Agha, Mohammad Aman Joya, Abdul Azim Wahabzada, Vsevolod Bardashev, Murina Abudukelimu, Igor Radchenko, Larry Brown, L. Peter Callender, Josh Chamberlain, Marco Mazariegos, Shaan Price, Abdul Qadir Farookh, Peg McKibbin, Chris Verrill, Amar Kureishi, Maimoona Ghizal, Ehsan Aman, Yunus Osman, Mehboob Ali, Saïd Taghmaoui, Nasser Memarzia, Abdul Salam Yusoufzai, Mohamad Amin Rahimi, Aziz Raxidi, Khalil Ahmad Nooryan, Ali Dinesh, Hameeda Hamraz, Kaiser Doulat-Beek, Ahmad Shah Alam, Habib Zargi, Houshmand Habib, Lukas Ferreira, Saeed Meeran Farhad, Anita Argent;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Kite Runner” on the website imdb.com
“A Better Life”, 2011
Director: Chris Weitz
This poignant drama tells the story of Carlos, an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles, who works tirelessly as a gardener to provide a better life for his teenage son. The film highlights the struggles and sacrifices faced by immigrant families.
Starring: Demián Bichir, Eddie «Piolin» Sotelo, Joaquín Cosio, José Julián, Nancy Lenehan, Gabriel Chavarria, Bobby Soto, Chelsea Rendon, Trampas Thompson, Tim Griffin, Valorie Hubbard, Dolores Heredia, Isabella Rae Thomas, Carlos Linares, Robert Peters, Richard Cabral, Bella Balajadia, Giselle Nieto, Luis Colocio, Ray Moreno, Yelyna De Leon, Rolando Molina, Tadie Acosta, Joe Renteria, Isidro Vallin, Magi Avila, Henry Ambriz, Miguel Alejandro Gaxiola, Jorge Gaxiola, Robert Renderos, Charles Currier, Marlon Correa, Adrian Mojica, Todd Felix, Eddie Martinez, Jason Medwin, Tom Schanley, Abraham Chaidez, Ruben Avitia, Lian Castillo, Fredo Cervantes, Rico Deveraux, Maynor Lopez, Patricia Medrano, George Paez, Abraham Rubio, Tatiana Sarasty, Mary Scanlon;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
“The Terminal”, 2004
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film stars Tom Hanks as Viktor Navorski, a man from a fictional Eastern European country who becomes stranded at New York's JFK airport when his homeland undergoes a sudden political upheaval. The film blends humor and heart as Viktor navigates life in the airport.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci, Chi McBride, Diego Luna, Barry Shabaka Henley, Kumar Pallana, Zoe Saldana, Eddie Jones, Jude Ciccolella, Corey Reynolds, Guillermo Diaz, Rini Bell, Stephen Mendel, Michael Nouri, Ana Maria Quintana, Bob Morrisey, Sasha Spielberg, Susan Slome, Mik Scriba, Jim Ishida, Carlease Burke, Stephon Fuller, Dan Finnerty, Anastasia Basil, Lydia Blanco Garza, Joseph Davis, Tonya Ivey, Kevin Mukherji, John Eddins, Kenneth Choi, Cas Anvar, Conrad Pla, Danette Mackay, Ian Finlay, Janique Kearns, Eddie Santiago, Kevin Ryder, Dusan Dukic, Mark Ivanir, Matt Holland, Benny Golson, Buster Williams, Mike Ledonne, Carl Allen, Scott Adsit, Robert Covarrubias, Terry Haig, Jeff Michael;
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
“In This World”, 2002
Director: Michael Winterbottom
A powerful docudrama that follows two Afghan refugees, Jamal and his uncle, as they embark on a perilous journey to the UK. The film captures the harsh realities of migration and the dangers faced by those seeking asylum.
Starring: Jamal Udin Torabi, Enayatullah, Imran Paracha, Hiddayatullah, Jamau, Wakeel Khan, Lal Zarin, Ahsan Raza, Mirwais Torabi, Abdul Ahmad, Amanullah Torabi, Ramzan Ali, Chaman Ali, Rasheed, Allah Bauhsh, Hossain Baghaeian, Yaaghoob Nosraj Poor, Ghodrat Poor, Mehdi Poor, Ahmad Azami, Yusef Azami, Mr. Eghdame, Mr. Dehghame, Mr. Yusuf, Bayram Arjangi, Jaffa Eghbali, Kerem Atabeyoglu, Erham Sekizcan, Nabil Elouhabi, Paul Popplewell;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 88 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “In This World” on the website imdb.com
“Brooklyn”, 2015
Director: John Crowley
Set in the 1950s, this romantic drama follows Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who emigrates to Brooklyn, New York. The film beautifully portrays her struggles to adapt to a new country while balancing her past and her hopes for the future.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Brid Brennan, Jane Brennan, Fiona Glascott, Jessica Paré, Eileen O'Higgins, Jenn Murray, Emily Bett Rickards, Eve Macklin, Mary O'Driscoll, Maeve McGrath, Nora-Jane Noone, Michael Zegen, Paulino Nunes, Hugh Gormley, Emma Lowe, Barbara Drennan, Gillian McCarthy, Art Campion, Eva Birthistle, James Corscadden, Samantha Munroe, Jane Wheeler, Adrien Benn, Alain Goulem, Max Walker, Iarla O'Lionaird, Ellis Rockburn, Erika Rosenbaum, Ellen David, Christian de la Cortina, James DiGiacomo, Tadhg MacMahon, Hudson Leblanc, Paul Stewart, Niamh McCann, Denis Conway, Karen Ardiff, Gary Lydon, Áine Ní Mhuirí, Mella Carron, Karen Belfo, Chantal Parent, François Pruneau, Nikky Smedley;
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
“El Norte”, 1983
Director: Gregory Nava
This film tells the story of two Guatemalan siblings who flee their war-torn country for the United States. It explores the harsh realities of their journey and the challenges they face as they try to build a new life.
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, Rodrigo Puebla, Yosahandi Navarrete Quan, Rodolfo De Alexandre, Emilio Del Haro, Jorge Moreno, Palomo Garcia, Ismael Gamez, Silverio Lujan, Socorro Velazquez, John Martin, Ronald G. Joseph, Abel Franco, Rosario Cevellos, Trinidad Silva, Lupe Ontiveros, Young Chung, Gregory Enton, Tony Plana, Slavitza Yhuelo, Jules Hart, Enrique Castillo, Momo Yashima, Jomarie Ward, Loraine Shields, Larry Cedar, Sheryl Bernstein, Diane Cary, Eulalia Cardenas, Jules Segal, Perry Page, Mary Armantrout, George O'Hanlon Jr., Bo Kane, Pablo Velasquez, Sergi Dagliana, Giuseppe Furia, Pado Hende, Sean O'Kane, Antonio Prester, Sabina Vannucchi;
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
“The Immigrant”, 2023
Director:
Set in the 1920s, this film follows Ewa Cybulska, a Polish immigrant who arrives at Ellis Island seeking a better life. It delves into the exploitation and hardships faced by immigrants in America, highlighting the struggle for dignity and survival.
Starring: Samy Naceri, Frédéric Mastro, Abdel Qissi, Islam Avurkhanov, Jean-Pierre Schillings, Anzor Membatyrov, Sharip Habibov, Sabrina Pfaff, Armel Avokandoto , Eduard Avanesov, Arnaud Makunga, Rayan Bouazza, Jerome Mignon;
Production year: 2023;
Genre: action, crime;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 0;
“Sin nombre”, 2009
Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga
This gripping film follows a young Honduran girl, Sayra, as she attempts to migrate to the United States with her father. Along the way, she encounters a gang member seeking redemption. The film powerfully captures the dangers of migration and the search for hope.
Starring: Paulina Gaitan, Edgar Flores, Kristian Ferrer, Tenoch Huerta, Héctor Jiménez, Marco Antonio Aguirre, Leonardo Alonso, Karla Cecilia Alvarado, Juan Pablo Arias Barrón, Rosalba Belén Barrón, Felipe Castro, Rosalba Quintana Cruz, Marcela Feregrino, Giovani Florido, Ariel Galvan, Diana Garcia, Gabriela Garibaldi, Ignacio Gonzalez, Noé Hernández, Lilibeth Flores, Jesús Lira, Catalina López, Hector Anzaldua, Benny Emmanuel, Fernando Manzano, Liliana Martinez, Mary Paz Mata, Emir Meza, Emilio Miranda, Jose Miguel Moctezuma, Esperanza Molina, Luis Fernando Peña, Iván Rafael, Gabino Rodríguez, David Serrano, Gerardo Taracena, Harold Torres, Andrés Valdéz, Max Valencia Zúñiga, Noé Velazquez, Tulio Villavicencio, Guillermo Villegas, Javier Rivera Flores, Luis Angel Paz Flores, José Rogelio Vázquez López, Luis Antonio Vázquez López, José Luis Montiel Luna, Marco Tolio Durand Martínez, Jesús Humberto Fuentes Perez, Luis Rodriguez Sanchez;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 96 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Sin nombre” on the website imdb.com
“The Good Lie”, 2014
Director: Philippe Falardeau
This film tells the true story of Sudanese refugees known as the “Lost Boys” who resettle in the United States after fleeing civil war. It explores themes of loss, survival, and the challenges of adapting to a new life.
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, Corey Stoll, Kuoth Wiel, Femi Oguns, Sarah Baker, Lindsey Garrett, Peterdeng Mongok, Okwar Jale, Thon Kueth, Deng Ajuet, Keji Jale, David Madingi, Kon Akoue Auok, Sibusisu Moyo, Antoine Wonder Kalambay, Elikana Jale, Afemo Omilami, Michael H. Cole, Brian Kurlander, Jimi Kocina, Joshua Mikel, Mike Pniewski, Vince Pisani, Kimberly Banta, Travis Smith, Sharon Morris, Raj Kala, Parisa Johnston, Heather Lyda, Maria Howell, Clifton Guterman, Kenny Alfonso, Victor McCay, Jacob Kuol Alier, Berglind Jonsdottir, Dhan Kueth, Israel Matseke-Zulu, Keith Woulard, John Prendergast, Tiffany Jones, Nathaniel Ramabulana, Lavine Dimo, Julia Ayiol, Sope Aluko, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Abena Ayivor;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
“Roma”, 2018
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
While not exclusively about migrants, this semi-autobiographical film by Alfonso Cuarón highlights the life of Cleo, a domestic worker of indigenous descent in 1970s Mexico City. It reflects on social class, identity, and the immigrant experience within Mexico itself.
Starring: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta, Marco Graf, Daniela Demesa, Nancy García García, Verónica García, Andy Cortés, Fernando Grediaga, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, José Manuel Guerrero Mendoza, Latin Lover, Zarela Lizbeth Chinolla Arellano, José Luis López Gómez, Edwin Mendoza Ramírez, Clementina Guadarrama, Enoc Leaño, Nicolás Peréz Taylor Félix, Kjartan Halvorsen, Jennifer Armour, Félix Gómez, Alejandra Herrera, Gilberto Aguilera, Luca De Massis, Alan Del Castillo, Juan Pablo Lagos, Daniela Lugos;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Roma” on the website imdb.com
These films not only entertain but also educate audiences about the diverse experiences of migrants, encouraging empathy and understanding in a world increasingly defined by migration.
In conclusion, films about migrants serve as poignant narratives that illuminate the complexities of human experience in the face of displacement, identity struggles, and the quest for belonging. These cinematic works not only highlight the resilience and strength of individuals navigating their new realities but also challenge audiences to confront their perceptions and biases surrounding migration. By weaving rich, diverse stories that span cultures and borders, these films foster empathy and understanding, reminding us of our shared humanity and the universal desire for safety, acceptance, and a better life. As we continue to engage with these narratives, we are encouraged to reflect on the broader socio-political implications and the urgent need for compassion in an increasingly interconnected world.
