Chasing Freedom

This was a fictionalized, but based on true events, account of a hard edged young corporate lawyer (Juliette Lewis, very good in an atypical role) taking the responsibility to defend an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. Movies like this at times too often focus on the star, but there are enough scenes about the asylum seeker's life back in Afghanistan and struggles in detention that it was overall a balanced account. The newcomer playing the asylum seeker was not very expressive at times, but was very good too.

A touching, heartfelt movie that has a predictable message, but is well put together and not just your average movie of the week sort of movie. We even have some sympathy for the government, in theory one of the heavies of the movie, suggesting the balance provided. The Taliban doesn't come off well though ... no shock there! For instance, a major plot point is the need for proof of identity, which on its face doesn't really seem to be that unjust for the government to be concerned about. Court TV did a good job with this one.

Libby (Juliette Lewis) is a busy corporate lawyer forced to take on more pro bono hours. She reluctantly takes on an asylum seeking Afghan woman.

Layla Alizada plays the refugee Meena who arrives pre 9-11. Then 9-11 happens. Juliette Lewis is now a veteran actress, and does a good job as the uncaring lawyer who grow to fight for this case.

This is a lower budget TV movie. It gets a bit slow at times. There is some good insightful look at Taliban regime, and the difficulties of the asylum system. It's nice to see Juliette Lewis doing good work, and not just the usual flaky characters.

This topical film portrays a true story based on the life of an Afghanistan immigrant who arrived in the US without the proper papers. As a result, she must withstand the many trials and tribulations in the U.S. court system to win asylum in the United States. With the Taliban in control in her home country, she fears for her life should she be deported. The corporate lawyer assigned to this pro bono case is Juliette Lewis while Layla Alizad plays the young woman seeking asylum. Both actors gave performances with great bravada, each displaying fortitude in the face of adversity. Their work in this Court TV movie should be recognized and I hope that Court TV continues to make original films of such quality. The film is definitely worth a looksee. It's timely and about as well written as just about any other tv movie out there, well directed and well acted.

Chasing Freedom couldn't have been better named. The story is about a woman from Afghanistan who fled the oppression of the Taliban, seeking a life of freedom in America. Layla Alizada plays Meena, a woman forced to leave college when the Taliban take over. Neighborhood women come to her, looking for a teacher to help them learn how to read and write. When the Taliban learn of this, Meena is beaten and her brother thrown in jail for allowing females in his home for the purposes of education. When the Taliban decides they want more from Meena she decides to try and escape. With all the checkpoints she must pass, she destroys her identity papers and escapes to America. Once in America Meena finds out it isn't that easy gaining freedom in America if you can't prove who you are. This movie based on true facts shows the due process one must go through when coming to America and how the government agencies protect the homeland yet allow the oppressed a chance at life. This movie is very well done. For those who care about people, prepare to feel anger and tears. This movie will grip your heart and move you in ways other movies only dream of.

Enough has been said about the quality of the acting in this film so I won't add to that other than to say that it doesn't bother me if an actress portraying a New Yorker under stress doesn't talk very, very very fast - I'd rather be able to understand her lines! I just wanted to say that those who think that the inhumanity of the INS service or the lack of compassion of the officers and judges was overplayed have never been inside an immigration courtroom or had any dealings with the immigration service. In that respect the film was depressingly accurate. It saddens me that in the quest to 'protect' ourselves from those without legitimate requests for asylum, we have to treat everyone so appallingly, with representation that barely passes any reasonable competency test, as if the majority of asylees haven't suffered enough. Asylum seekers have, more often than not, barely escaped from their countries with their lives and the clothes on their back and they get treated like criminals. Some would say that it's shameful.

I'm just sorry that this film didn't make theatres and isn't required viewing for the general public.