On October 9th, Academy Students attended the premier of the film, “Aquí y Allá” as part of the New Wave of Ibero American Film Festival. The film focuses on the story of an immigrant teen from Guerrero, Mexico, and highlights many of the struggles that immigrants face in society today.
The students were engaged throughout the film and could relate to many of the ideas that were expressed. After the showing, a discussion was led by students of the Film and Spanish departments, along with Professor Cox, Jessica Guzman (a representative from CAUSA Oregon) as well as a representative from CAPACES Oregon.
The students participated actively in the discussion, drawing from their own personal experiences and giving their own perception of the themes presented. Many students gave personal anecdotes from their own families’ experiences, allowing them to develop a personal connection to the film. All together, the conversation expressed upon the real life values presented in the film, and the true faces that reflect the struggles shown.
As a result of the film and the discussion that followed, the Willamette Academy Students are continuing to explore the topic and hope to develop a further understanding of the problems facing immigrants today.
