LatinaLista — A lot has been written and filmed about the ongoing building of the border wall along the US-Mexico border.
The latest film to chronicle the impact of the border wall in the region is simply titled “The Wall.”
The Wall is a new, feature documentary about the construction of a fence along the US/Mexico border. Filmed over 3 years, in 3 states, the film captures the impact of building a physical wall from San Diego to Brownsville. Footage includes interviews with border sheriffs, illegal immigrants, a vigilante group known as The Minutemen, and border residents as they deal with the impact of a 25-foot fence in their backyard.
What makes this film so poignant for its creators is that the same day The Wall was finished more fencing along the border was proposed in Congress, and since that initial proposal, has been approved.
While the film has already premiered in two venues to sold-out audiences — Cine El Rey in McAllen, Texas and the Guadalupe Theatre in San Antonio — the production team wants a bigger audience to see the film so that a true dialogue about the fence can take place.
Serving as a tool, this film engages its audience to think critically about a current policy that has implications in many fields. As it addresses the Social Sciences such as Political Science, Sociology, and History, it also appeals to Chicano and/or Latin American Studies, Environmental Studies, and Civil Engineering.
For that reason, the film’s creators are embarking on an international academic tour. They are offering The Wall to college campuses for screenings to “spark an open dialogue” about the many issues The Wall touches upon.
The film is 77 minutes and can be available in a variety of formats for screening. A special Educational version of the DVD will be available shortly, which will include additional footage and interviews, list of sources, and suggested curriculum. Director Ricardo Martinez is available and interested in facilitating a dialogue about the film and associated issues. As a graduate of NYU/Tisch Film School, Mr. Martinez splits his time touring the country discussing The Wall, and working as a television editor for channels such as ABC, MTV, and VH1.
If interested in arranging a screening, send an email to media@thewalldocumentary.com.
Who better to discuss this issue than the next generation who will have to live with the predictable, and not so predictable, consequences of this divisive policy.
