Crossing Over describes the cultural crossing that immigrants have to overcome to become Americans, rather than the physical crossing of the journey there. It seems like lately there have been more films that have covered the latter topic and I am glad this film decided to cover the bigger picture involved with immigration.
This is a topic that has been dealt with a lot before, especially through the multi-story line fashion. Surprisingly enough "Crossing Over" brings something new to the table and is about as realistic as you could hope for. It isn't depressingly pessimistic against Americans or illegal immigrants, but doesn't bother to attempt to paint an overly perfect picture of the American dream either.
The most striking story is that of Taslima Jahangir (Summer Bishil), a 15-year old immigrant. In class, she gives her oral report on the side of 9/11 that most Americans aren't used to hearing. She explains how she understands how the terrorists were lost and looking for answers. They wanted to be heard and to be taken notice of, which they surely did with the massive amounts of lives taken that day. The terrorists did what they did as a pledge of allegiance to their god, thinking it was the right thing. Taslima says that while she thinks they went about their feelings of being lost the wrong way, she understands why they did what they did. The entire class screams at her in rage through every minute of her presentation. From this point on she might as well have just revealed secret explosions and terrorist schemes. She is soon investigated by immigration and taken away from her parents. Taslima has lived in America since she was 3 years old. Her parents brought her to America for a better life and it has become the only place she really knows. However, since her brother and sister were born in America, they are American citizens, thus keeping their parents in the country until they are 21, truly leaving Taslima all alone.
Taslima's story line was probably the most powerful one to me. It was interesting getting the opposing view on the terrorists involved with the 9/11 attacks. We tend to forget that they are still humans, no matter how destructive their confused actions were. This story also really lets us see the struggles that Middle Eastern immigrants face in America. Even those who didn't support the terrorists are pinned as being monstrous terrorists themselves. Holding on to any part of their culture can label them falsely as a danger to America. Some of the most emotional scenes in the film come from when this young girl is torn apart from her home and her family.
Other stories include an Australian actress, Claire (Alice Eve), attempting to get a green card so she can act in the States. Through her we get the questioning of how far would one go to maintain status as an American resident. She has a caring boyfriend, Gavin (Jim Sturgess), who is also an immigrant trying to become a citizen. Gavin is a singer and has a band that he performs with. He is an atheist, but comes from a Jewish family, claiming to be in the U.S. for religious teachings. However, he doesn't know a word of Hebrew. Claire takes a deceitful approach as well by making a sexual arrangement with an immigration official, Cole Frankel (Ray Liotta), to obtain her green card. And a young immigrant, Yong Kim (Justin Chon), who has come to America with his family, gets involved with the wrong side of the law and almost throws away the chance for him and his family to have a life in America. All of our characters are desperately trying to become citizens no matter what it takes
"Crossing Over" has a great cast that comes together in very strong performances. Summer Bishil is the stand out here, displaying such a wide range of emotions. She portrays the confusion, frustration, and surreal loss that embody her character. Her performance was very heartfelt as I felt for her more than any other character. Jim Sturgess did very well here, too, as the charismatic and charming musician. He had great energy on screen not to mention the spark he shared with Lizzy Caplan.
Justin Chon showed a great variety of emotions, too. He brought out the fear of his character, desperately struggling to maintain control of something. He can't handle being taken advantage of or outsmarted by natural-born Americans. This struggle to prove himself nearly becomes the death of him. Chon really displays his inner struggle, stuck between taking actions that will just be harmful to himself and everyone around him and taking everything back for a chance for his family to be a part of this country they have come to. Harrison Ford did pretty well also, showing a resistance, trying to do his job of reporting illegal immigrants, but also without losing his soul in the process.
"Crossing Over" covers a lot of ground through many aspects of life as an American immigrant. We get people of all different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds. Some are just coming to America and some of have been here their entire lives. The film has those who are secretly in the country illegally and those who are moments away from obtaining their citizenship.
The film shows very many different view points, even those of American governmental officials working to keep illegal immigrants out. They are not heartless and they go through nearly as much a struggle as the immigrants do daily. We get all sides of the situation and we are there with these people every step of the way.
What "Crossing Over" really does best comes in the ending. It seems like most films about immigration just end up making Americans seem like villains and only let the audience side with the immigrants who have a tragic ending. If the film has an emphasis on making it in America against the massive odds than we get the heartwarming ending. "Crossing Over" on the other hand doesn't try to play it to one extreme or the other. Some obtain their citizenship and are given a chance for a better life in America, but some are denied this home and forced in to their old countries, an unknown and depressing place to many of them away from their families and the lives they had built here. Not everyone can be saved, but not everyone is condemned either. Government officials aren't all evil, but feel for the immigrants, some they can save, some they can't.
"Crossing Over" doesn't break any new ground, but it's a realistic movie on immigration that will get you to feel strong emotional connections to the characters.
Kelsey Zukowski
Crossing Over
Crossing Over describes the cultural crossing that immigrants have to overcome to become Americans, rather than the physical crossing of the journey there. It seems like lately there have been more films that have covered the latter topic and I am glad this film decided to cover the bigger picture involved with immigration.
This is a topic that has been dealt with a lot before, especially through the multi-story line fashion. Surprisingly enough "Crossing Over" brings something new to the table and is about as realistic as you could hope for. It isn't depressingly pessimistic against Americans or illegal immigrants, but doesn't bother to attempt to paint an overly perfect picture of the American dream either.
The most striking story is that of Taslima Jahangir (Summer Bishil), a 15-year old immigrant. In class, she gives her oral report on the side of 9/11 that most Americans aren't used to hearing. She explains how she understands how the terrorists were lost and looking for answers. They wanted to be heard and to be taken notice of, which they surely did with the massive amounts of lives taken that day. The terrorists did what they did as a pledge of allegiance to their god, thinking it was the right thing. Taslima says that while she thinks they went about their feelings of being lost the wrong way, she understands why they did what they did. The entire class screams at her in rage through every minute of her presentation. From this point on she might as well have just revealed secret explosions and terrorist schemes. She is soon investigated by immigration and taken away from her parents. Taslima has lived in America since she was 3 years old. Her parents brought her to America for a better life and it has become the only place she really knows. However, since her brother and sister were born in America, they are American citizens, thus keeping their parents in the country until they are 21, truly leaving Taslima all alone.
Taslima's story line was probably the most powerful one to me. It was interesting getting the opposing view on the terrorists involved with the 9/11 attacks. We tend to forget that they are still humans, no matter how destructive their confused actions were. This story also really lets us see the struggles that Middle Eastern immigrants face in America. Even those who didn't support the terrorists are pinned as being monstrous terrorists themselves. Holding on to any part of their culture can label them falsely as a danger to America. Some of the most emotional scenes in the film come from when this young girl is torn apart from her home and her family.
Other stories include an Australian actress, Claire (Alice Eve), attempting to get a green card so she can act in the States. Through her we get the questioning of how far would one go to maintain status as an American resident. She has a caring boyfriend, Gavin (Jim Sturgess), who is also an immigrant trying to become a citizen. Gavin is a singer and has a band that he performs with. He is an atheist, but comes from a Jewish family, claiming to be in the U.S. for religious teachings. However, he doesn't know a word of Hebrew. Claire takes a deceitful approach as well by making a sexual arrangement with an immigration official, Cole Frankel (Ray Liotta), to obtain her green card. And a young immigrant, Yong Kim (Justin Chon), who has come to America with his family, gets involved with the wrong side of the law and almost throws away the chance for him and his family to have a life in America. All of our characters are desperately trying to become citizens no matter what it takes
"Crossing Over" has a great cast that comes together in very strong performances. Summer Bishil is the stand out here, displaying such a wide range of emotions. She portrays the confusion, frustration, and surreal loss that embody her character. Her performance was very heartfelt as I felt for her more than any other character. Jim Sturgess did very well here, too, as the charismatic and charming musician. He had great energy on screen not to mention the spark he shared with Lizzy Caplan.
Justin Chon showed a great variety of emotions, too. He brought out the fear of his character, desperately struggling to maintain control of something. He can't handle being taken advantage of or outsmarted by natural-born Americans. This struggle to prove himself nearly becomes the death of him. Chon really displays his inner struggle, stuck between taking actions that will just be harmful to himself and everyone around him and taking everything back for a chance for his family to be a part of this country they have come to. Harrison Ford did pretty well also, showing a resistance, trying to do his job of reporting illegal immigrants, but also without losing his soul in the process.
"Crossing Over" covers a lot of ground through many aspects of life as an American immigrant. We get people of all different nationalities, ages, and backgrounds. Some are just coming to America and some of have been here their entire lives. The film has those who are secretly in the country illegally and those who are moments away from obtaining their citizenship.
The film shows very many different view points, even those of American governmental officials working to keep illegal immigrants out. They are not heartless and they go through nearly as much a struggle as the immigrants do daily. We get all sides of the situation and we are there with these people every step of the way.
What "Crossing Over" really does best comes in the ending. It seems like most films about immigration just end up making Americans seem like villains and only let the audience side with the immigrants who have a tragic ending. If the film has an emphasis on making it in America against the massive odds than we get the heartwarming ending. "Crossing Over" on the other hand doesn't try to play it to one extreme or the other. Some obtain their citizenship and are given a chance for a better life in America, but some are denied this home and forced in to their old countries, an unknown and depressing place to many of them away from their families and the lives they had built here. Not everyone can be saved, but not everyone is condemned either. Government officials aren't all evil, but feel for the immigrants, some they can save, some they can't.
"Crossing Over" doesn't break any new ground, but it's a realistic movie on immigration that will get you to feel strong emotional connections to the characters.
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