Ale y Yose

Alejandra Matias and Yoselina Bazan are two friends and DREAMers from Oakland, California. Given cameras to self-document their personal experiences, the two share their various hopes and fears over a period of six months, reimagining what it means to be a teenage girl in the United States. Among the everyday issues of balancing a school, home, and work life, they also grapple with the uncertainties surrounding their citizenship in the midst of legal challenges thrown at DACA recipients during the Trump presidency.

The film weaves together their personal home videos with interview and observational footage to captures their various struggles with an unknown future. Ale is balancing a four-day work week at a part-time job on top of her senior year of high school. Yose faces a lack of emotional support at home. As they open up to the camera, they also speak about putting up a tough front to protect themselves lest anyone take advantage of them.

Despite the fears over their legal status, they continue to be activists in their community as seen by their participation at a rally protesting the presence of ICE in their city. When asked about the future, they hopefully imagine one in which people get organized and continue to fight.

FILMMAKER'S STATEMENT: "When we started filming, I was immediately taken aback by their willingness to be so vulnerable and share such personal aspects of their lives — their struggles, fears, and dreams.

As a filmmaker, I am interested in leveraging the power of film to build solidarity and incite social change. Each of my past films incorporated a level of collaboration, something that is extremely important to my work. As I continue my career as a filmmaker, I have a continued interest in improving this collaborative practice between the protagonists of the film and myself, ensuring that the process of opening one's life to the filmmaking process is empowering and strengthening rather than extractive and exploitative.

I learned so much in the process of making this film and will carry this experience of working with Ale and Yose with me forever."

— Erin Semine Kökdil

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

Documentary Film - Video Project - Ale y Yose

A Film by Erin Semine Kökdil

24 minutes

Scene Selection • Closed Captioned

Grades 8 - Adult

Item #: AYY-1178

Two DREAMers struggle with the reality of an unknown future

Starting at $59

Licensing Options

K-12 Classrooms, Public Libraries: DVD - $59 K-12 Classrooms, Public Libraries: DVD + Digital File - $109 Colleges, Institutions, Businesses: DVD - $195 Colleges: DVD with Digital Site License - $295 K-12 School District pricing available. Please inquire at [email protected]

Reviews and Festivals

"Interviewing each other and filming typical activities with friends and family, the girls are sometimes unsure or silly, and other times juggle appointments with immigration lawyers, college prospects, and their shared dedication to being activists for positive change...Consider for social studies, social justice, and history classes or discussion of transitioning from high school and part-time jobs to life's next challenges."

— School Library Journal

"Highly Recommended. A somber and real portrayal of what immigrant children go through when they enter and live in the United States. Their lives, their families, and their pain, is brutally illustrated in this short but powerful film. Their aspirations in achieving a better life as they walk the tight rope of American politics, American society, and cultural differences is fascinating to watch. Their ability to succeed, given the obstacles these two young Latina girls face, leave the viewer with food for serious thought."

— Educational Media Reviews Online

"At a time where undocumented immigrants, the Latino community, and DREAMers are under attack, Ale y Yose offers an intimate glimpse into the lives and perspectives of two girls at the forefront of these intersecting issues. Undocumented yet unafraid, Ale and Yose both fit and break the mold of a US teenager."

— KQED Truly CA

WINNER

Palm Springs International ShortFest, Youth Jury Award, Young Cineastes

The Breitrose Awards by The Enersen Foundation

Drunken Film Festival Oakland, Audience Award

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Palm Springs International ShortFest

DTLA Film Festival

Drunken Film Festival Oakland

SCREENED AT

Latin American Series, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Festival Hispano

Nuestras Raices: Oakland Youth Rise

Item In Cart

Starting at $89

Item In Cart

Starting at $79

Ale y Yose

Select License (limited Public Performance Rights included)

Reviews and Festivals

related films

related subjects