Immigration remains a tricky issue. Even with a change in U.S. leadership in 2020, nothing has changed. Filmmakers Constanza and Domenica Castro show the lives of the undocumented and the DACA recipients who remain in a never-ending limbo in their short film, We Are Here.
We Are Here gives voice to four young immigrants as they “navigate a perilous system that defines their fate and freedom.” One speaks of the isolation of the COVID lockdown, which kept them from seeing or visiting with family. Ironically, what they experienced mirrors many of what undocumented peoples do, as they can’t return home to be with their families. Another DACA recipient points out that it allows them to remain in the U.S. while providing no path to citizenship, a driver’s license, or a way to obtain a Social Security Number. She would lose her status after a marijuana arrest. A third speaks about his idealistic and unrealistic view of the American dream and the systems in place that keep him where he is.
“…the lives of the undocumented and the DACA recipients who remain in a never-ending limbo…”
As they speak in voiceover, free-flowing shapes appear on screen, morphing and evolving to match the tone and urgency of their words. The filmmakers explain, “We use the sublime essence of color, music, and voice to convey a message that transcends borders. These intimate moments of lives interrupted by the system of immigration allow us to explore the depths and energy of living in shadows and fear.”
We Are Here is a reminder that while those in Washington debate, quibble, and do nothing, there are immigrants wondering about their status in the United States. Unfortunately, it would seem many of them have a bleak vision of what their future holds.
"…morphing and evolving to match the tone and urgency of their words."
