La Americana and Neighbor’s Link at Jacob Burns Film Center

The following report was written by Marianne Delaney, Director of Development and Communications at Neighbor’s Link.  Neighbors Link’s 2009 “Latin Links” event series opened with a reception and screening of La Americana at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY.  A conversation with the film’s director, Nicholas Bruckman, Steve Apkon, Executive Director of the Jacob Burns Film Center, and Carola Otero Bracco, Executive Director of Neighbors Link, followed the screening:

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The viewers were deeply moved by the film. The story was relevant to everyone in the audience – primarily affluent suburban residents – since the suburbs are now, for the first time in our history, a primary destination for many immigrants.

The intensely difficult and demanding work done by Carmen, the main character of the film, strikes a chord with all Americans who daily witness immigrants performing back-breaking labor for minimal (and occasionally no) compensation, only to be expected to disappear at the end of the workday – with their need for housing, healthcare and other basics not only ignored but resented.

“It’s a story I see over and over again in Westchester,” said Ms. Bracco. “As we watch the film, we realize that Carmen – as the vast majority of recent immigrants – had no choice but to come here – she had overwhelmingly compelling reasons to leave home, simply so that her daughter would survive.”

“Once here, many immigrants are separated from members of their families, continued Ms. Bracco. “Most Americans have no idea how difficult it is to live without family members. It takes a phenomenal amount of courage to come to this country under these desperate circumstances and to keep working so hard, to keep persevering,” she added.

The conversation also focused on how the mainstream media always focuses on day laborers when covering immigration, and that “La Americana” reveals the truer, bigger picture of recent immigration – a picture of moms and dads and families seeking a future where they once had none – a future with perhaps the ability to make a living and to even dream of an education for their children.

“La Americana,” Carmen and Nicholas Bruckman inspire us to continue the conversation – each and every day – until immigration reform becomes a reality – until immigrants are treated with the dignity and respect their amazing stories demand.

- Marianne Delaney,
Director of Development and Communications
Neighbor’s Link