The New Americans - Episode 5
54m
Directed by Laura Angelica Simon • Documentary • 2003 • 55 minutes
In the crowded city of Bangalore, India, we meet Anjan Bacchu, a successful computer programmer who is planning to apply for a position in the U.S. But first, the practical Anjan wants to find and marry a traditional Indian wife. In a modern twist on the Indian tradition of arranged marriages, Anjan meets Harshini, a young computer instructor, through an online marriage bureau. Anjan’s father, a devout Gandhian, believes India is suffering from an American “brain drain” and worries that his son will be “corrupted” by America’s secular materialism. Anjan promises his father that he’ll return to India in 100 weeks to resume his career here with even greater prospects for success.
The Flores Family stays in Juárez for a week, calling cousins and friends to secure the sponsorship needed to obtain visas for the entire family.
Ricardo Rodríguez is being seriously groomed for ascent to the Major Leagues. José Garcia’s future, on the other hand, remains uncertain after disappointing performances land him back in Great Falls for a second season of Rookie League baseball.
We also start to see the painful plight of Naima Abudayyeh’s homeland extending to America and throughout the world as the second Intifada grows more violent. We see Hatem as he becomes increasingly political, helping to organize large-scale demonstrations.
"In the post-9/11 era, when many immigrants are looked upon with distrust, The New Americans offers a fresh perspective...a powerful and deeply personal documentary." - Suzanne Ryan, Boston Globe