The Least of These
(DVD)
DIRECTED BY - Jesse Lyda, Clark Lyda
THE LEAST OF THESE takes a penetrating look at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a former medium-security prison that re-opened in 2006 as a prototype family detention center.
The facility houses immigrant children and their parents from all over the world who are awaiting asylum hearings or deportation proceedings. As information about troubling conditions at the facility began to leak out, activist attorneys sought to investigate and address the issues. In telling the story of their quest, the film explores the role (and limits) of community and legal activism in bringing about change. The film leads viewers to consider how core American rights and values - protection of children, presumption of innocence, upholding the family structure as the basic unit of civil society, and America as a refuge of last resort - should apply to immigrants, particularly children.
GENRES - documentary, politics
Film Info
RUNTIME - 62 minutes
YEAR - 2009
FORMAT - DVD Region All
SPECIAL FEATURES (DVD Only) -
All New Epilogue: "The End of Family Detention at Hutto" updates viewers after President Obama's announcement that the government will stop sending families to Hutto. Short Film: Breakthrough's "Restore Fairness" , Deleted Scenes: The Role of Private Prison Companies in Immigration Detention, The Yourdkhanis in Canada, April 2007 Protest at T. Don Hutto, December 2007 Protest at T. Don Hutto, Excerpts from SXSW Panel Discussion: Connecting to Audiences that Care, Festival Q&A Excerpts, Center for American Progress - Filmmaker Interview, Trailer
Related Links:
Official Website
Director
Director
Producer
Producer
Producer
Director of Photography
Editor
FESTIVALS
- Center for American Progress - Reel Progress Film Series 2009 (Washington DC)
- Cine Las Americas Film Festival 2009 (Austin, United States)
- Maryland Film Festival 2009 (Baltimore, United States)
- New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival 2009 (New Orleans, United States)
- New York Latino International Film Festival 2009 (New York, United States)
- SXSW Film Festival 2009 (Austin, United States)
- Washington DC International Film Festival 2009 (Washington DC)
Press
Powerful and moving a film about a fight for social justice that forced change
- Mark Steiner, WEAA, Baltimore
A stirring peek inside one of the most divisive issues facing the country
- Peter Martin, Cinematical
The film asks to what extent Uncle Sam will punish kids for the sins of their parents, even if that sin is wanting to be an American.