Utica, New York has been praised by the UN as “the town that loves refugees.” Over the last several decades, the town has welcomed refugees from numerous conflicts overseas. Bosnian, Sudanese, Vietnamese, and many other refugees have found a warm welcome in Utica. Because of the prevalence of refugees, many organizations have sprung up in Utica offering refugee-specific services. The Refugee Center is one such organization.
Partnered with national and international refugee services, the many employees at The Center rehome and teach refugees how to survive in America, providing a friendly face who speaks their native language when they first get off the plane, housing, employment opportunities, community, education, and more.
There are several stories in Utica: Last Refuge, but key among them is the Azein family. The young Sudanese family spent 6 years waiting in a Somalian refugee camp before finding their way to America. From their arrival in 2017 to their eventual acclamation to life in America in 2019, the film follows Nasradin, the family patriarch, as he seeks employment and grows as a Father.
Utica: Last Refuge could have been at least two separate documentaries. The hour and fifty-eight minute run time can make the film quite daunting to some individuals, especially those seeking classroom material. The documentation and camera style are solid, however, making this film easy to watch for those with an interest in refugee lives in America. The back-and-forth between the Azein family and the story of Utica can make the film hard to follow at times.
The constant reminder that refugees provide positive long-term economic impacts makes the film jump from touching to saccharine—sometimes in seconds—as the human rights and political arguments made receive far too little attention in comparison. That being said, those studying the economic impacts of refugees on their host states will find a cornucopia of useful information in this educational documentary. Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Utica: Last Refuge belongs on humanitarian and economic documentary shelves. Libraries in New York may want to include this in collections about New York history.
What college instructors would be interested in this documentary?
Professors of public and international policy may get the most use out of this documentary, but those studying immigration, refugees, and international law may also find interest in segments of this documentary.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
Limited PPR included with purchase of film; K-12 Classroom, Public Libraries: DVD - $89; K-12 DVD + Digital File - $139; Colleges & Institutions: DVD - $345; Colleges: DVD with Digital Site License - $495