The flood of migrants into Europe over the past few years from Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia has become the most notable movement since World War II. And while many are seeking political asylum, not everyone arriving in Europe is guaranteed a new home. Indeed, only one-quarter of asylum seekers in Germany are ultimately accepted for permanent residence. Benjamin Kahlmeyer's documentary focuses on four men—two from Kenya, one from Cameroon, and one from Syria—who are confined at the Eisenhüttenstadt registration center pending a review of their cases, a stay that stretches over three months as the men struggle with the burden of uncertainty. The German government is clearly sympathetic to their plight—the men are treated well and are provided with attorneys and translators to help facilitate—but each application undergoes an incredibly detailed and time-consuming investigation. The Invisibles wrapped filming in 2014, prior to the massive influx of new migrants that led to socioeconomic tumult across Europe, so this is a record of German immigration procedures before the system's recent near-overload conditions. Nonetheless, the film offers an interesting look at how one country carefully manages to maintain a fair immigration policy. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
The Invisibles
(2015) 78 min. DVD: $89: public libraries & high schools; $295: colleges & universities. DRA. The Video Project. PPR. Closed captioned. Volume 32, Issue 1
The Invisibles
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