Emigration is one of today’s major issues. Cinema, sensitive to the problems of the moment, has portrayed the desire of hordes of citizens to improve their lives by changing horizons in search of something better. Today’s migratory movements from Africa to Europe features with outstanding cinematographic energy in European and particularly Maghrebian films. This said, emigration is not a factor exclusive to our present day, but a phenomenon repeated down through the centuries, similarly considered in retrospective by the cinema. Among others are the migratory movements towards the USA from Europe or other American countries, from China to Brazil, Sweden to Norway, Portugal and Spain towards the richer parts of Europe... with the implied linguistic difficulties, cultural or religious contrasts, rejection by the natives of the receiving countries, outbreaks of racism, etc.
Emigrants will take the shape of a season of approximately 30 movies raising audience awareness of this burning problem while surprising them with the quality of their making. The titles featuring in this season are expected to include Gaijin Os Caminhos da Liberdade (Gaijin, Roads to Freedom), by Tizuka Yamasaki (Brazil, 1980); Saïd, by Llorenç Soler (Spain, 1999); Alambrista!, by Robert Young (USA, 1977); Joe Hill, by Bo Widerberg (Sweden,1971); O salto, by Christian de Chalonge (France, 1968); Pelle Erobreren (Pelle the Conquerer), by Bille August (Denmark, 1987); Espaldas mojadas, by Alejandro Galindo (Mexico, 1955); L´Horizon perdu, by Laïla Marrakchi (Morocco, 2000); Utvandrama (The Emigrants) and Nybyggarna (The New Land), by Jan Troell (Sweden, 1971); America America, by Elia Kazan (USA, 1963); Bwana, by Imanol Uribe (Spain, 1996); In This World, by Michael Winterbottom (UK, 2002); Las cartas de Alou, by Montxo Armendáriz (Spain, 1990); Desembarcos, by Jeannine Meerapfel (Argentina, 1989)…