Movie spotlight
Clínica de Migrantes: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Puentes de Salud is a volunteer-run clinic that provides free medical care to undocumented immigrants in south Philadelphia. Here, doctors and nurses work for free to serve people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Clinica de Migrantes, a potent film by Maxim Pozdorovkin, follows the workers and patients of Puentes through months of routine care and growth. Along the way, the film puts a face to the millions of people who exist on the margins of society: people displaced from their homelands, separated from their families, unfamiliar with the customs, unable to obtain health insurance and terrified to come forward to seek medical help. Along with revealing these patient stories, Clinica is also a look at the heroic doctors and nurses who work pro bono to ensure these people receive care, offering a deeply moving look at the limitless potential of humanity.
Insights
Plot Summary
This short documentary offers a stark look at the conditions within the largest family detention center in the United States, operated by the for-profit GEO Group in Dilley, Texas. It follows the stories of mothers and children seeking asylum in the US, highlighting their experiences with the legal and psychological challenges they face while detained. The film emphasizes the difficult choices these families must make and the uncertainty of their future.
Critical Reception
Clínica de Migrantes was critically acclaimed for its timely and impactful portrayal of the U.S. immigration system's impact on vulnerable families. Reviewers praised its empathetic approach and its ability to shed light on a critical social issue.
What Reviewers Say
Powerful and moving depiction of the human cost of immigration policies.
An essential watch for understanding the complexities of asylum and detention.
Highlights the resilience of mothers and children in the face of adversity.
Google audience: Audience reviews often express deep empathy for the families featured and concern over the conditions within the detention center, with many calling the film eye-opening and important.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for an Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary, Directors Guild of America Awards, 2017
Fun Fact
The film was part of 'The New York Times' Op-Docs series, which features award-winning short documentary films.
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