Velo Negro
VELO NEGRO by director Arjanne Laan is a slow, yet impressive feature documentary about Mexican immigrants in the U.S. Though the film was produced in 1996, The film still provides an up-to-date and in-depth analyses of immigration affaires at the US-Mexican border. Velo Negro shows that the desire to have a home is just as strong as the dream of leaving. If you want to understand why Mexicans leave their country, despite the dangers and uncertainties that lay ahead, VELO NEGRO is a must see.
Social Interest
VELO NEGRO is a documentary about three people who leave their Mexican mountain villages to seek success in the United States. The bus from their Mexican village keeps taking young people away. The elderly stay behind. Franco is having a good time in New York. However, his wife Micaela cannot take root and dreams of returning to her homeland. Meanwhile their mountain village gets increasingly quiet, people are born to leave and return to die. Here the choice has become impossible. Neither staying, nor leaving can bring happiness.
Political Interest
In recent decades (Illegal) immigration to rich western countries has become an increasing issue. Though the west needs the workers, it can do without the social unrest that comes with them. Therefore western governments are looking at a formidable task to attend the influx of workers politicaly and turn it into something positive.
Historic Interest
It is said that today the greatest global migration of peoples ever is taking place. Since the beginning of times migration has changed cultures. In the western world today that change is enacted at great spead due to the continuous influx of non-western immigrants. It is estimated that within a couple of decades most western metropoles will have a majority of non-western inhabitants.
Awards
1996 PRIX JORIS IVENS Cinema du Réel, Paris.
Scenes
Dreams and reality for Mexican migrants in the U.S.
According to a Mexican immigrant, the Mexican people wanting to cross the border to the United States have dreams and beautiful images of the life over there. However, when they arrive in the U.S. life tends to be very hard on them. The Mexican immigrants take care of their family back in Mexico by sending them money for example, called remittances.
Illegal border crossing
An illegal Mexican immigrant tells his story about crossing the border to the United States. He had help from a people smuggler, called coyote.
U.S. policemen tracking down illegal immigrants
This scene shows U.S. policemen tracking down illegal Mexican people in the area near the Mexican border. People are found in the desert, and also in the containers of a train. Policemen state that the illegal border crossing is dangerous, for the immigrants but also for the policemen.
People trying to enter the United States illegally by crossing the Mexican border.
There are a lot of people attempting to cross the Mexican – U.S border illegally. Mexican, but also other hispanic, Chinese and Iraqi people want to enter the U.S. and fullfill their dream. The highly secured border and the newly built fence don’t seem to stop the people from trying.
Family of U.S. immigrants back in Mexico
Two parents have been left alone in Mexico while their grown up children are living in the U.S. The father says he and his wife have a hard time coping on their own.