Introducing MNN’s New Film Series: The Cinema of Immigration

What does it mean to be an immigrant in the United States? From the European immigrants who sailed to Ellis Island in pursuit of the American Dream to the Mexican immigrants seeking safety across the border, they all came here with a story to tell.
Starting October 18th, join MNN for a new film series, "The Cinema of Immigration," which will explore the immigrant experience through films that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our nation's history.

This 10-week series was curated for MNN by Mark Ethan Toporek. Following each screening, Mr. Toporek will lead a group discussion about the film that was shown.

When: Thursday evenings, 6pm - 9pm

October 18, 2018 - December 27, 2018

*No screening on Thanksgiving (November 22, 2018)

Where: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

537 W. 59th Street, New York NY 10019

Cost: $30 for the full series or $5 per individual screening

Click here to purchase tickets.

Space is limited so please register in advance. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Questions? Email education@mnn.org or call 212-757-2670

Film Schedule:

Part 1: The Arrival
October 18, 2018
HOLLYWOODISM (1997), directed by Simcha Jacobovici, 92 mins. An entertaining documentary illustrating how the immigrant experience became both a projection and a mirror of the American Dream.
October 25, 2018
HESTER STREET (1975), directed by Joan Micklin Silver, 92 min.  A young Jewish immigrant joins her husband at Ellis Island, only to find he has forsaken his Old World ways. Starring Carol Kane and Steven Keats.
November 1, 2018

THE MAMBO KINGS (1992), directed by Arne Glimcher, 104 min. Colorful adaptation of Oscar Hijuelos’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about two brothers who leave Cuba for the U.S. to establish their own band. Starring Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas.
November 8, 2018
MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (1984), directed by Paul Mazursky, 115 min.  A comedy-drama with Robin Williams as a Russian musician who defects to the U.S. during a trip to Bloomingdale’s and tries to adjust to a new life in a new land. With Maria Conchita Alonso.
November 15, 2018
AMREEKA (2009), directed by Cherien Dabis, 96 min. Both friction and unexpected humor arise when a West Bank Arab mother (Muna Farah) wins a Green Card in a lottery and relocates with her family to the American Midwest.
Note: In observance of Thanksgiving, there will not be a screening held on November 22 Part 2: Assimilation

November 29, 2018
I REMEMBER MAMA (1948), directed by George Stevens, 134 min. An adaptation of Kathryn Forbes' memoir about growing up in a Norwegian immigrant family in San Francisco. With Barbara Bel Geddes.
December 6, 2018
THE WEDDING BANQUET (1993), directed by Ang Lee, 108 min. A poignant and comedic look at cultural identity and child-parent relations as a gay Taiwanese-American tries to fool his parents with a fake wedding.
December 13, 2018
LA CIUDAD (1999), directed by David Riker, 88 min. An inspirational ensemble piece, this Spanish-language, black-and-white, neorealist depiction explores the lives of undocumented immigrants in Manhattan.
December 20, 2018
A BETTER LIFE (2011), directed by Chris Weitz, 98 min. Demian Bichir received a surprise Oscar nomination playing a gardener in East LA who struggles to protect his son from gangs as well as immigration agents.
December 27, 2018
THE GOOD LIE (2014), directed by Philippe Falardeau, 110 min. A group of young Sudanese refugees arrive in the US and get help from Reese Witherspoon as an employment agency counselor.

About Mark Ethan Toporek

Mark Ethan Toporek is a member of the Actors Studio and has appeared in films including “The Secret Lives of Dentists,” “The Confession” and “Lesser Prophets.” Toperek has been presenting the film series at the Queens Museum of Art since 1998, and a variety of cinema classes for 92Y since 2003.