You must watch: The Other Side Of Immigration

**Wendy300** · 03-07-2011, 01:10 AM

I am not sure if a thread already exists for this, but I didn't see one. My husband and I just saw this and I thought it was excellent.

Theothersideofimmigration.com is the website for the documentary, and also contains a blog and other info.

This is a documentary that interviews people in Mexico who have been affected by immigration. It gives the immigration story from the point of view of immigrants and family of immigrants who are left behind. It looks also at the big economic picture, but always from the people's point of view. It shows why there is no sustainable existence for people in rural areas and how many of them would prefer to stay if they could.

I'd be interested to hear people's point of view on some of the points made in the movie, such as money sent from the US to Mexico, and the benefits of the temporary worker program. It advocates for investing money in developing the economy rather than on a border wall. At the same time it shows how corruption impacts the whole picture. What I really like is how the movie connects many different elements and gives the big picture in a way I had never thought of.

For those of you w/Netflix, I watched it on my computer.

Also, the producer/director/filmmaker seems very intelligent and the film has won several awards. He said in an interview that he's making another movie except w/interviews of people on this side. I wonder if this could be a way for some of us to get our stories out? His movies seem to be reaching a large audience.

**laurtonymac** · 03-07-2011, 04:20 AM

Thanks for recommending this, never heard of it before.

Okay, and OMG, this whole doc is filmed in my husband's birthplace, and has many clips of his hometown of La Luz/ We weren't 5 mins into the movie and they were interviewing his friend's father in law. Funny coincidence out of all the places to film in Mexico. Anyway, I liked it and thought they spoke with many intelligent people who truly undertsand the larger problem of the illegal immigration and it's roots in the corruption of the Mexican government at all levels. I wish the man who spoke many times, I think his name was something Vanegas, I wish people like that could really take hold and influence the people there into organizing for mass changes. I also think it's a very sad reality, which one of the older men commented on, about the "sickness: that he believe many Mexican citizens have in rising in power or wealth and then forgetting about the other people who are still living poor. I actually have seen that first hand here in the US with many Mexican people. They become legal, and maybe wealthier, and then they begin to treat their own people badly and take advantage of them, in working situations, etc. I am really saddened and outraged when that happens.

Overall, good dic and thanks for recommending it.

**Js wife** · 03-07-2011, 04:55 AM

Thanks for your suggestion, Wendy. I just watched this on NetFlix like 2 mins ago. Very informational and effective. There are a handful of people I'd like to force to watch this

Seriously, wish they'd do a documentary on us and interview the members of this site and our families - we are definitely a piece of the pie.

**Wendy300** · 03-08-2011, 01:08 AM

Wow, Laurtonymac, that is so funny that you knew people in it. Small world! I agree about the people in the movie. I also thought the women were very well spoken. My husband also completely agreed with the man that was talking about the "sickness" of only looking after yourself, not your neighbors.

I also thought it was interesting how the one guy said that the people don't protest more, or question where the money is going. Then the other person saying that they rely more on the US gov't than there own was very interesting.

J's wife- I emailed the filmmaker, and told him about this website, my story, and said I could probably connect him to other people's stories should he be interested. He said he definitely was. The new movie is just in the very early planning stages right now but later he will contact me, and now his this site as a resource for asking questions also.

I will definitely be reccomending this movie to people as I think it is well done, easy to understand, and to the point. It really raises some good questions.