I Was Born in Mexico, But…

An undocumented immigrant who wishes to remain anonymous recounts her story in Corey Ohama's diary-like documentary short in which an unnamed woman's voiceover provides the audio track, while the music and visuals are drawn from archival material—mostly commercials and instructional films from the Prelinger Archives. The woman, now in her 20s, says she was around three years old when her relatives made the perilous crossing to reach the United States. At first, she couldn't speak English, but she learned quickly enough, and felt like she fit in with other kids, although things changed when she entered sixth grade and classmates asked questions that made her aware of their differences. For instance, they could travel where she couldn't, and when she asked her parents why, the answers she received were evasive, exacerbating her frustration. In high school, kids excluded her because of her race, so she spent more time with other Mexicans. Meanwhile, she continued to press her parents for answers until they finally admitted that she wasn't born in the United States, so she cannot drive or participate in other activities that require proof of citizenship. To her, this doesn't seem fair, especially since she only remembers her life in America. She earns money for college by working full-time (which started when she was 18), believing that education will help ensure her future success, especially since no laws prevent her from attending school. At times, Ohama adds footage of her subject (face obscured) to the archival collage, and while the juxtaposition of old and new footage seems a little awkward, her subject's cautiously optimistic voiceover effectively presents a powerful reminder of the plight of illegal Mexican immigrants. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)