Films About Moving to a New Country
Films that explore the theme of moving to a new country often delve into the complexities of immigration, cultural adaptation, and the search for identity. These narratives can be both heartwarming and challenging, portraying the emotional journey of characters who leave their familiar lives behind in pursuit of new opportunities or a better life. Such films frequently highlight the struggles of assimilation, the clash of cultures, and the resilience of the human spirit as individuals navigate their new environments while trying to maintain connections to their roots.
Here’s a list of notable films that center around the theme of moving to a new country:
“The Namesake”, 2006
Director: Mira Nair
This film follows Gogol Ganguli, the son of Indian immigrants in America, as he grapples with his cultural identity and the expectations of his traditional family while trying to carve out his own path in a foreign land.
Starring: Kal Penn, Tabu, Irfan Khan, Jacinda Barrett, Zuleikha Robinson, Brooke Smith, Sahira Nair, Jagannath Guha, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Sandip Deb, Sukanya, Tanushree Shankar, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Tamal Ray Chowdhury, Dhruv Mookerji, Supriya Choudhury, Stuart Rudin, Heather MacRae, Sumitra Kanti, Kanti, Michael Countryman, Kousik Bhowal, Rupak Ginn, Soham Chatterjee, Gargi Mukherjee, Pallavi Shah, Noor Lahiri Vourvoulias, Linus Roache, Josh Grisetti, Justin Rosini, Dan McCabe, Bobby Steggert, B.C. Parekh, Sibani Biswas, Lakhan Das, Kharaj Mukherjee, Glenne Headly, Daniel Gerroll, Amy Wright, Christie Moreau, Jo Yang, Krishna Dikshit, Kartik Das, Gary Cowling, Sudipta Bhawmik, Gretchen Egolf, Baylen Thomas, Jeb Brown, Jessica Blank;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 122 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Namesake” on the website imdb.com
“Brooklyn”, 2015
Director: John Crowley
Set in the 1950s, this film tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who moves to Brooklyn for a better life. As she navigates her new surroundings, she faces the challenges of homesickness and the complexities of love.
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
“A Better Life”, 2011
Director: Chris Weitz
This poignant drama centers on a Mexican gardener in Los Angeles who struggles to provide for his son while facing the harsh realities of immigration and the hope for a better future amidst adversity.
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 Kite Runner”, 2007
Director: Marc Forster
Based on Khaled Hosseini's bestselling novel, the film depicts the life of Amir, who flees Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. It explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the longing for home as Amir returns years later.
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
“In America”, 2002
Director: Jim Sheridan
This semi-autobiographical film tells the story of an Irish family that immigrates to New York City, focusing on their struggles and triumphs as they attempt to build a new life while dealing with personal loss.
Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger, Neal Jones, Randall Carlton, Ciaran Cronin, Djimon Hounsou, Juan Carlos Hernández, Nye Heron, Jason Salkey, Rene Millan, Sara James, Bob Gallico, Jason Killalee, Chary O'Dea, Adrian Martinez, Merrina Millsapp, David Wike, Guy Carleton, Elaine Grollman, Nick Dunning, Michael Sean Tighe, Jennifer Seifert, Kathleen King, Eilish Scanlon, Tom Murphy, Des Bishop, Bernadette Quigley, Frank Wood, Molly Glynn, Jer O'Leary, Regina Ford, Tamla Clarke, Carmen Regan, Nisha Nayar, Rodrigo Pineda Sanchez, Gabriela Quintero Lopez;
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
“The Pursuit of Happyness”, 2006
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Based on a true story, this film follows Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman who moves with his young son to pursue a better life through hard work and determination, showcasing the American Dream.
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandiwe Newton, Brian Howe, James Karen, Dan Castellaneta, Kurt Fuller, Takayo Fischer, Kevin West, George Cheung, David Michael Silverman, Domenic Bove, Geoff Callan, Joyful Raven, Scott Klace, Rashida Clendening, Eric Schniewind, Peter Fitzsimmons, Maurice Sherbanee, Zuhair Haddad, Victor Raider-Wexler, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Darryl Fong, George Maguire, Joe Nunez, Adam Del Rio, Rocky LaRochelle, Erin Cahill, Rueben Grundy, Lo Ming, John Kovacevich, Bonnie Akimoto, Stu Klitsner, Esther Scott, Tina D'Elia, Rev. Cecil Williams, David Fine, George Moffatt, Amir Talai, Mike Garibaldi, Jason Frazier, Kevin Crook, David Haines, James Finnerty, Abigail Van Alyn, Bob Greene, Robert Anthony Peters, Terri Orth-Pallavicini, John Robb, Daniel Wilder!;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 117 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Pursuit of Happyness” on the website imdb.com
“The Visitor”, 2007
Director: Tom McCarthy
This moving drama tells the story of a lonely college professor who discovers a pair of undocumented immigrants living in his New York apartment. Their unlikely friendship leads him to confront his own life and the complexities of immigration.
Starring: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass, Marian Seldes, Maggie Moore, Michael Cumpsty, Bill McHenry, Richard Kind, Tzahi Moskovitz, Amir Arison, Neal Lerner, Ramon Fernandez, Frank Pando, Waleed Zuaiter, Deborah Rush, Ashley Springer, Laith Nakli, Jacqueline Brogan, Walter Mudu, Yevgeniy Dekhtyar, Earl Baker Jr., Walter the Dog, Bandar Albuliwi, Jesus A. Del Rosario Jr., Brother Douglas, Hristo Hristov, Walerá P. Kanischtscheff, Mizan Kirby;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Visitor” on the website imdb.com
“The Immigrant”, 2023
Director:
Set in 1921, this film follows Ewa, a Polish woman who arrives in America seeking a new life but finds herself trapped in a world of exploitation. It highlights the hardships faced by immigrants in pursuit of freedom and opportunity.
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;
“The Joy Luck Club”, 1993
Director: Wayne Wang
This film weaves together the stories of four Chinese American immigrant families and their daughters, exploring themes of cultural conflict and the immigrant experience through intergenerational relationships.
Starring: Kieu Chinh, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu, Ming-Na Wen, Tamlyn Tomita, Lauren Tom, Rosalind Chao, Chao Li Chi, Melanie Chang, Victor Wong, Lisa Connolly, Vu Mai, Ying Wu, Xi Meijuan, Guo-Rong Chin, Hsu Ying Li, Irene Ng, Qugen Cao, Anie Wang, Yan Lu, Boffeng Liang, William Gong, Diana C. Weng, Yuan-Ho C. Koo, Zhi Xiang Xia, Dan Yu, Christopher Rich, Nicholas Guest, Kim Chew, Jason Yee, Ya Shan Wu, Samantha Haw, Faye Yu, Russell Wong, Grace Chang, Michael Paul Chan, Philip Moon, Melissa Tan, Yi Ding, Emmy Yu, Vivian Wu, Lucille Soong, You Ming Chong, Jennifer Ten, Lena Zhou, Jeanie Lee Wu, Andrew McCarthy, Jack Ford, Diane Baker;
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
“Green Card”, 1990
Director: Peter Weir
A romantic comedy that follows a Frenchman who marries an American woman to obtain a green card. As their relationship evolves, they navigate the intricacies of love and immigration in a humorous light.
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Andie MacDowell, Bebe Neuwirth, Gregg Edelman, Robert Prosky, Jessie Keosian, Ethan Phillips, Mary Louise Wilson, Lois Smith, Conrad McLaren, Ronald Guttman, Danny Dennis, Stephen Pearlman, Victoria Boothby, Ann Wedgeworth, Stefan Schnabel, Anne Shropshire, Simon Jones, Malachy McCourt, Emily Cho, John Spencer, Ann Dowd, Novella Nelson, John Scanlan, Arthur Anderson, Vasek Simek, Christian Mulot, Francis Dumaurier, Ernesto Gasco, Jeb Handwerger, Michael David Tanney, Conrad Roberts, Chris Odo, Michele Nevirs, Rick Aviles, Abdoulaye NGom, Clint Chin, Larry Wright, Diane Kimbrell, Timothy Stickney;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Green Card” on the website imdb.com
These films not only entertain but also provide insight into the emotional and societal challenges of moving to a new country, enriching our understanding of the immigrant experience.
In conclusion, films about moving to a new country offer a rich tapestry of narratives that explore the complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural adaptation. These stories not only resonate with those who have experienced the challenges of relocation but also provide a window into the diverse experiences of individuals navigating new environments. Whether through heartwarming tales of friendship and community or poignant reflections on isolation and struggle, these films underscore the universal quest for connection and understanding in a world that often feels foreign. Ultimately, they remind us that while the journey may be fraught with obstacles, it is also filled with opportunities for growth, discovery, and the forging of new paths in life.
