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Reviews
Five Years North (2020)
Multiple stories woven together, truly MOVING
I'm a huge fan of everything Optimist has put out, starting with their documentary Living On One Dollar, which is when they originally met Luis, the main subject of Five Years North. This film is gripping, and truly takes you through the highs and lows of the immigrant experience, from the angle of young Luis to the ICE officer whose background + upbringing is a pretty major reveal. Don't miss it -- add this to your watchlist asap.
Salam Neighbor (2015)
Heartwarming, eye-opening documentary about the refugee crisis
Honestly, this film blew my mind. I saw it at its world premiere in June 2015 on World Refugee Day at the AFI Docs film festival and was stunned by just how eye-opening it was. Salam Neighbor hits on the refugee crisis through staggering numbers, history and, most important, human connection. We see everyday life at a refugee camp through the eyes of Zach and Chris, and begin to understand that this whole crisis is ongoing -- and that more conversations need to be happening to incite change. I loved that they didn't just capture moments at the camp as outsiders, they really got involved with the people at the camp and embraced them as neighbors. This is a must-watch documentary. It will warm your heart and fire up your activist spirit!