The immigration debate seems only to affect…well, immigrants. Immigration and deportation woes extend to the Khmer community in KrewKeth’s short film, Removal.
A mother visits a priest at her Buddhist shrine to plead to the “priest” on behalf of her son. He is a family man living in the United States with his wife and children. He faces deportation back to Cambodia. To complicate things further, while in America, her son hung out with the wrong crowd in his youth, and his trouble with the law is the reason his residency is being revoked.
“He faces deportation back to Cambodia.”
Amid this harrowing situation, the Buddhist priest offers advice about the role of a parent in these times. Removal juxtaposes the priest’s Buddhist wisdom alongside the son’s life-altering moment he’ll face at the Immigration office.
Removal tells an overall lesson in Kharma, if you will, as it concerns U.S. immigration policy. It makes no overt judgment, but the film intends to build our sympathies to all immigrants seeking a new life in America. Its message is insightful and goes right to the point with its 10-minute runtime.
Removal screened as part of the Khmer Americana Showcase at the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Virtual Showcase.
"…juxtaposes the priest’s Buddhist wisdom alongside the son’s life-altering moment..."
