IMDb reviews From IMDb
★ 8 / 10
Welcome to America, land of the free and
Brent Marchant
Welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave, a sanctuary for the world’s poor, tired and huddled masses. Or is it? That’s the question raised in…
Welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave, a sanctuary for the world’s poor, tired and huddled masses. Or is it? That’s the question raised in this gripping, edgy debut feature from the writing-directing duo of Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez. When a Spanish couple (Alberto Ammann, Bruna Cusí) relocating to the US on legally obtained visas to begin a new life, they’re detained by authorities on arrival at the New York port of entry for intense questioning about matters of an undisclosed nature. With no explanation for the interrogation, they’re subjected to an increasingly intrusive line of questioning by two antagonistic agents (Ben Temple, Laura Gómez) who offer no rationale for their hostile scrutiny. It’s an exercise on par with an increasingly brutal fraternity hazing ritual, one aimed at ultimately trying to uncover some kind of allegedly illegal scheme driven by trumped-up speculation and the couple’s growing resistance to cooperate, especially when they seem to be guilty at best of failing to dot a few i’s and cross a few t’s. They become reluctant to answer highly personal questions, leading to circumstances that eventually threaten to tear apart the fabric of the duo’s obviously loving relationship. While it’s certainly reasonable to employ prudent security precautions in immigration and customs scenarios, is this kind of unduly malicious treatment really necessary, particularly when the couple ostensibly appears to be playing by all the rules? Is this the America we want, one driven by paranoia and pervasive suspicion? And, if so, then why would anyone want to come here in the first place, even when making a diligently concerted effort to follow all of the legally sanctioned protocols? This film sends a powerful message about these kinds of practices, especially given that some of them have actually been in place far longer than most American citizens are aware of. These issues are disturbingly brought to life by the film’s meticulously crafted writing, which keeps characters and viewers alike guessing about what’s playing out, combined by the superb performances of the four principals, who effectively convey the anguish and fright being wrought on screen. This Tubi TV offering is highly deserving of its three Independent Spirit Award nominations for best first feature, best first screenplay and best editing, even if it’s also the kind of picture that makes audiences uneasy – but, then, maybe that’s the point behind it, too, a goal at which it succeeds brilliantly.
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★ 8 / 10
Welcome to America, Indeed
brentsbulletinboard
Welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave, a sanctuary for the world's poor, tired and huddled masses. Or is it? That's the question raised in…
Welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave, a sanctuary for the world's poor, tired and huddled masses. Or is it? That's the question raised in this gripping, edgy debut feature from the writing-directing duo of Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez. When a Spanish couple (Alberto Ammann, Bruna Cusí) relocating to the US on legally obtained visas to begin a new life, they're detained by authorities on arrival at the New York port of entry for intense questioning about matters of an undisclosed nature. With no explanation for the interrogation, they're subjected to an increasingly intrusive line of questioning by two antagonistic agents (Ben Temple, Laura Gómez) who offer no rationale for their hostile scrutiny. It's an exercise on par with an increasingly brutal fraternity hazing ritual, one aimed at ultimately trying to uncover some kind of allegedly illegal scheme driven by trumped-up speculation and the couple's growing resistance to cooperate, especially when they seem to be guilty at best of failing to dot a few i's and cross a few t's. They become reluctant to answer highly personal questions, leading to circumstances that eventually threaten to tear apart the fabric of the duo's obviously loving relationship. While it's certainly reasonable to employ prudent security precautions in immigration and customs scenarios, is this kind of unduly malicious treatment really necessary, particularly when the couple ostensibly appears to be playing by all the rules? Is this the America we want, one driven by paranoia and pervasive suspicion? And, if so, then why would anyone want to come here in the first place, even when making a diligently concerted effort to follow all of the legally sanctioned protocols? This film sends a powerful message about these kinds of practices, especially given that some of them have actually been in place far longer than most American citizens are aware of. These issues are disturbingly brought to life by the film's meticulously crafted writing, which keeps characters and viewers alike guessing about what's playing out, combined by the superb performances of the four principals, who effectively convey the anguish and fright being wrought on screen. This Tubi TV offering is highly deserving of its three Independent Spirit Award nominations for best first feature, best first screenplay and best editing, even if it's also the kind of picture that makes audiences uneasy - but, then, maybe that's the point behind it, too, a goal at which it succeeds brilliantly.
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★ 8 / 10
It's complicated
Taco_Sanchez
After watching this movie and reading the reviews, the best thing that I can say is...it's complicated. People are going to watch this movie and see the story…
After watching this movie and reading the
reviews, the best thing that I can say is...it's complicated. People are going to watch this movie and see the story differently.
Upon entry is the story of a couple, Diego and Elena, emigrating from Spain to the United States. They are selected for extra screening at customs, which becomes a long an arduous process for them. From the beginning, the agents who deal with them are very terse, and while maybe not discourteous they certainly are not polite either. The couple is taken from the original intake area to a secondary area without explanation. Their concerns about making a connecting flight and wanting to contact a family member they were hoping to meet on their layover are ignored by the agents. They are subjected to numerous questions, some of a personal nature, which may be necessary and reasonable but are handled with little tact by the agents.
As our story develops, we find that Diego has previously tried to gain entry to the US and been denied. It is also revealed that prior to the start of relationship with Elena, he was engaged to a woman who lived in the United States that he had never met in person. It also appears there was some overlap between that relationship and his with Elana. He also had not told Elana about the relationship. It also showed that Diego was from Venezuela and didn't want to go back, so he was somewhat dependent on Elena - certainly to get into the US because she won the Visa lottery.
Now, in my mind the movie presented these in a manner that raised suspicion - but it did not seem to give a clear answer to it. I somewhat think that the investigators weren't sure either, but just hoped to interrogate them so harshly to see if they would break - either that or they were just pure sadist.
As the interrogation comes to a close, it appears that Elena has become completely distrustful of Diego. However, she is told at the end of her solo interrogation that she can come into the country without him. The film cuts away before she answers, and shows her being led back into the waiting room where she intentionally sits several seats away from Diego. She appears hurt, and says she just wants to go home. Diego seemingly tries to explain himself, causing her to leave to use the restroom where she washes her face, and seemingly composed herself.
Both are called to the desk where, their passports are stamped and they are told "welcome to America" with the film
Immediately ending.
What I take from this movie is that it actually poses a question to the viewer by showing people "at their worst" and asking you to make a decision about them. I like to think that the immigration agents are overworked, underpaid, have a very hard job and were having a very bad day...but had a legitimate purpose rather than simply being bad people. I like to believe that Elena and (especially) Diego were 100 percent legitimate in their aims, even if they weren't always perfect.
I gave this movie a high rating because I believe it is well done, thought provoking a worth a watch.
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