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Written and directed by Gerard Thomas Straub
Introduction to the Film
Endless Exodus is a film about migrants from Mexico and Central America who cross the border and the US without any documentation. But the film’s focus is not political or social; rather it looks at the problem through the lens of spirituality. The film captures the face and presence of Christ in the face and presence of the migrants, many of whom will die trying to cross the desert to get a job nobody really wants. During the last ten years, more than 3,000 migrants have died trying to cross the border between the US and Mexico. But it’s not just a film about empathizing with migrants who only want to survive. The film parallels our own spiritual journey through our own desert of doubts and confusions, as the migrants teach us about sacrifice, fearlessness, dedication, and faith in the face of grave circumstances.
Gerry’s own statements of his deeply held and courageously lived out religious convictions and his poignant visuals disturb and challenge viewers at many levels. He makes us see what we would rather not see. He invites us to feel and empathize more deeply, to think more critically, to pray more faithfully, and to act more courageously. His personal witness is as inspiring as it is troubling. And while he says the film is not a political reflection on immigration, it will have a significant impact on how we think about and speak about the problem of immigration that is dividing the US electorate. As an expression of the Gospel, Gerry’s life and films are indeed “good news for the poor.” But they await the viewers’ response to become even “better news for the poor.” |
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