American life has many sides, but the point of view of an immigrant offers the good, the bad and the unexpected ugliness that hides in what starts as a hopeful idea of a new beginning. It’s an interesting theme explored in the feature film Amreeka, which follows the immigration story of a Palestinian mother and son who leave their home for a fresh start in small-town America just as the first Gulf War conflict in the Middle East begins.

The film is soft, honest and unexpectedly funny and light while at the same time shows the strength and weaknesses of a family facing opposition and acceptance in their foreign community. I’m not an immigrant by any means, but I related to the closeness, hope and optimism as I followed this family’s journey. It was a very easy film to enjoy, but more importantly it shined a spotlight on a time that easily parallels today where racial profiling and prejudice sadly remain.

Amreeka opens in theaters in majors cities, including the Landmark Theater in New York, on Sept. 4th. Interestingly, this film is the first feature film produced by National Geographic as they tread further into the film world to raise awareness of global issues. The fact that they chose Amreeka as their feature debut definitely says something, so please continue to support independent films and check this one out!

I’ve included the trailer above and will be posting a Q&A with first-time filmmaker Cherien Dabis and the Film Society of Lincoln Center very soon!