[yasr_overall_rating]
SPOILERS AHEAD
The day her boyfriend plans to propose to her, Anna, a young New York-based Czech doctor is held at U.S. immigration after a humanitarian trip to Uganda.
“Welcome” tells the story of Anna (Jandra Dee), a young New York-based Czech doctor on her way back from a humanitarian trip in Uganda who gets held up in U.S. immigration. Initially, Anna thinks it’s just a formality but as the day progresses, she realizes that it is more serious.
While she is in immigration, she is told that she cannot use her cell phone, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend Aaron (Nick Adamson), who is awaiting her arrival in a tuxedo along with a limo and string quartet as he plans to propose to her.
As her detainment stretches into hours, Aaron gradually becomes distraught and when his limo driver and string quartet eventually have to leave him for other appointments, he makes his way inside to try and discover what happened to her.
As a student who has lived in the U.S. for the past eight years, Anna realizes that her college misinformed her when they told her she could overstay her visa and while she worked overseas in Uganda, although she was physically in another country, technically, she was working for an American company, therefore, according to U.S. immigration, she lied and will be sent back to her country of origin, the Czech Republic and will have to wait another five years before she can reapply.
For anybody who has had any interaction with U.S. immigration, especially since 9/11, know that they are not playing around. A simple error on a customs form could be the difference between being allowed into the U.S. or being sent back to the country you came from.
The movie highlights an increasingly frustrating aspect of U.S. immigration, one that has absolute power and can admit whomever they want into the country while turning away others who they determine could be a possible threat to the nation.
The film moves along at a steady pace, placing emphasis on the frustration in Anna and the apprehension and restlessness in Aaron, as he awaits her return with no word of her well being.
Director Serena Dykman creates an authentic and unfortunately, all-too-real predicament that has affected many who have traveled to the U.S. and in many uncounted cases, have been turned away. Jandra Dee does a fine job as Anna, originally optimistic but gradually disillusioned at the possibility that she may have to leave the country she has called home for the past eight years without the probability of being able to return, possibly ever.
Nick Adamson as Anna’s afflicted boyfriend Aaron, unfortunately, doesn’t have much to do other than look perturbed and run around endlessly, searching for her but in the end, this is Anna’s story and because of Ms. Dee’s nuanced performance, she carries the weight of the film on her shoulders.
For more info about the film please visit www.welcomethemovie.com
