2007, USA
Adventure, Documentary, Drama, War
20th Anniversary of "P.O.V."
While so many other TV shows cause viewers to zone out, American Documentary’s “P.O.V.” series invites audiences to reach out.
“We look for programs about issues not widely covered elsewhere, that really engage people in dialogue,” explains American Documentary and P.O.V. Executive Director, Simon Kilmurry.
“These are films which spark a lot of discussion,” Kilmurry continues, “It’s not a one-way medium. This is a way to foster dialogue; we really encourage that.”
The organization stresses this ideal by hosting community screening events and providing lesson guides to further conversation. They tie episodes to specific dates, such as the harsh factory conditions of “Made in L.A.” with Labor Day and “Revolution ’67” plays on the fortieth anniversary of the riots represented.
“P.O.V.” ties the first documentary with the United Nations' World Refugee Day. Director Anne Makepeace presents “Rain in a Dry Land,” a film which focuses on two families adjusting to life in America after emigrating from Kenya.
After surviving civil war in Somalia and witnessing horrendous brutalities, the families lived for 13 years in the Kakuma Refugee Camp; some of their children know nothing else. They attend cultural orientation classes to learn bits of English and American technology, but preparation for the final culture shock is impossible.
The film follows a family of nine to Springfield, Mass., and a single mother and her four children to Atlanta. Despite their muddled homes, Makepeace presents a clear picture of their lives. Shifting between the two families every other month, it is encouraging to see progress being made and frustrating to view unresolved efforts.
Madina, the mother of the Springfield-bound family, states, “If God permits me to get to America peacefully, and my eyes and ears arrive in a place where the breeze is blowing, I will learn how to live there...I hope that I can heal myself and find peace of mind in America.”
Unfortunately, Madina spirals into depression as she mentally relives her mother's murder. Her husband, Aden, has great difficulty learning a new language and thus gaining employment. Their older children feel estranged in school due to being mainstreamed with their age group despite a language barrier and the overwhelming hurdle of having had no previous education -- in Somalia, their enemies forbade it.
As they shed these oppressive shackles, the immigrants struggle with maintaining a balance between old and new lifestyles. As rebellious teen Sahara of the Atlanta family declares, “I don't need my culture here.”
“There is the luminous hope of a new life, but then the hitting of reality like a brick wall,” Makepeace observes. “The resilience of people who do survive and make it here is the story of so many refugees and immigrants.”
As immigration prevails as a hot button issue in the States, debates arise over assimilation and the worthiness of new members to our society. So many pass judgment based on an overheard foreign tongue without stopping to learn the story behind it. This film suggests that we set aside intolerance and build relationships through communication.
Released as part of PBS's "P.O.V." series.
How can you help? "P.O.V." recommends how to take action.