Product Description

Winner of the Special Jury Proze at the Sundance Film Festival, P.O.V. presents FARMINGVILLE, a provocative, complex, and emotionally charged look into the ongoing nationwide controversy surrounding a suburban community, its ever-expanding population of illegal immigrants, and the shockingly hate-based attempted murders of two Mexican day laborers. In the late 1990s, some 1,500 Mexican workers moved to the leafy, middle-class town of Farmingville, population 15,000. In some ways, it’s a familiar American story: an influx of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico to do work the locals won’t; rising tensions with the Anglo population; charges and counter-charges of lawlessness and racism; protest marches, unity rallies and internet campaigns--then vicious hate crimes that tear the community apart. But this isn’t the story of a California, Texas or other Southwestern city. It’s the endlessly entralling tale of Farmingville, New York, on Long Island. Sharply and intimately directed by Catherine Tambini and Carlos Sandoval, who moved to Farmingville after the tumultuous clash catapulted the town into national headlines, FARMINGVILLE is an astounding glimpse into an issue that continues to anger, frighten and confuse us. DVD Features: Deleted Scenes; Filmmaker Interview; Resources; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48426 in DVD
• Brand: New Video
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 78 minutes

Review
A primer for anyone who cares to better understand the usually unseen cost of America's appetite for cheap labor. --New York Times

Customer Reviews

A fantastic effort, but a bit uneven...
This is turly a story that needs to be told, no matter the consequences. However, due to the political idealologies, the message comes across in a somewhat partisan fashion.

Granted, the issue of illegal aliens has surfaced in a huge way, and although I wholeheartedly agree wit the message Sandoval is sending, I see a few issues with the film.

Truly, a documentary is nearly impossible to create without the director feeling strongly one way or the other. For instance, after the vote to overturn the veto in regards to the creation of a hiring hall is denied, the movie shows the SQL (the grassroots group looking to deport these aliens) singing a bonechilling version of "God Bless America"

Although powerful, these scenes really cut through the audience and leaves an indelible mark.

If you're expecting a documentary that truly slices the issue down the middle, move elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a movie that captures the element of evil and exacerbates it into the SQL, the moving is incredible powerful.

Even though this review sounds somewhat critical, the movie itself should be seen by all, just for the worldly knowledge of life outside of your hometown. I still recommend it.

** ** Balanced ... and Sad ** **
Great documentary that is balanced on both sides of the Illegal Immigration debate. You get to see how tough being an Illegal Immigrant is in a strange land when you are just trying to feed yourself and your family. On the other hand, you get to see how a mass influx of people from a different culture suddenly and drastically changes your environment. My feelings on Illegal Immigration are mixed, but at the end of the day I always come back to my moral and Christian teachings.

Good documentary that is fair, gives you both sides of the issue and might make you think critically about this complex issue instead of just seeing it as black and white or 1 dimensional. Highly recommended.

Excellent
I go to school on Long Island and I saw this documentarye at an event on my campus. I think it's very fascinating and does a wonderful job of exploring both sides of the issue. I had a chance to see the filmmakers speak and they are both incredibly intelligent; it shows in the film. Highly recommend for anyone that wants to learn about an issue that is still explosive now in the 21st century.