Has the world changed for immigrants to the US since the early days of Ellis Island?
HBO approached Louis Malle to celebrate the Statue of Liberty’s centenary with a documentary about Ellis Island. Instead, Malle chose to look at the lives of immigrants recently arrived in the US. He travelled to different communities to find out about their experiences as they arrived in a new land. What emerges is a picture of hope and optimism – of peoples leaving behind strife and troubled lives, desiring a new beginning and finding the chance to better their lot. With the current issues regarding immigration in America and around the world, this is a timely opportunity to see Malle’s fascinating film.
