El Mundo De Asilo

An unusual film, El Mundo de Asilo, or "The World of Asylum," takes the form of a fictional game show in which three contestants try to correctly answer questions relating to the subject of political asylum. Presented in Spanish with English subtitles, the film explains the five categories under which a person may qualify for political asylum (race, nationality, religion, social group, and political opinions), and exhorts viewers to "go to your nearest refugee center" when in doubt about anything. Viewers also are warned against certain prevalent myths (such as the idea that an immigration officer has the power to deport someone--only a judge can make that decision), given a good overview of their rights, and given some advice (Central American political refugees are advised to go to Canada rather than the U.S.) A low-budget film, El Mundo de Asilo does provide some answers for people who are seeking political asylum, and for that reason (not to mention the absence of anything similar on video) this is recommended for those libraries geographically situated close to the border, where there might be a need and use for the program. (Available from: Direct Cinema Ltd., P.O. Box 10003, Santa Monica, CA 90410; (800) 525-0000.)