Stop Time is a unique documentary following the life of Lucio Pérez over nearly four years. After receiving a deportation order in 2017, a local church offered sanctuary to Lucio so that he could avoid complete separation from his family. While ICE may learn of his whereabouts, both the church and the activists funding and supporting Lucio’s stay strongly believe that the outspoken evangelical slant of the political supporters of strict immigration enforcement will keep the organization from attempting a raid on a church.
Lucio tries to live as much of a life as he can at the church while essentially imprisoned by his lapsed immigration status. He teaches Spanish classes to the churchgoers, attends services, and receives occasional visits from his family. All the while, members of the church and anti-ICE activists give their opinions on the necessity and inherent cruelty of
Stop Time stands out in its simple documentary style and its massive impact. We watch a family already well-integrated into society torn apart all because of the systemic over-enforcement of the law toward racial and ethnic minorities in the US. Just for allowing their teenage son to sit in the car while they ordered sandwiches at a nearby subway, Lucio faces deportation. He is not a hardened criminal or a repeat offender, just a family man who doesn’t speak much English.
This documentary offers a fascinating glimpse into a moral dilemma many already hypothesize about: “Would you hide those unjustly discriminated by your country’s law?” This fact alone makes this film a must-see for anyone interested in Immigration reform and the lived experiences of Central American immigrants living in the United States. Stop Time would be an excellent addition to any documentary collection. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Stop Time belongs beside other recent films about legal and social issues in America as well as titles about immigration and the lives of immigrants.
What kinds of college instructors could use this film?
Those studying immigration, law enforcement, modern social issues in America, and theology will get the best use of Stop Time in the classroom.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
$550 for the Life of File