À la recherche de la liberté

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.

Layla Alizada plays an Afgan who seeks to escape the clutches of the Taliban before the 9-11 terrorist attacks. She crosses the Afgan/Pakistan border, and flies to the USA. She arrives at the JFK airport and seeks political asylum without having a passport, entry visa, money, or any local contacts. If a federal judge orders her deported, it will mean certain death. Juliette Lewis plays a major league hot shot corporate lawyer who takes the case pro bono as a favor to her boss.

CHASING FREEDOM has many shining points. Although filmed in Canada, the Afgan scenes have high realism. The dramatic music sets the right tone but does not overpower. Layla Alizada does fine in her first major role. The entire film hinges upon the audience caring about Layla Alizada's character. Fortunately, the film succeeds in accomplishing this.

Unfortunately, Juliette Lewis is miscast. She does not have the gravitas to play a major league New York City lawyer. Also, emotional, stressed out New Yorkers speak very, very, very quickly. Juliette Lewis invariably speaks very slow. She never speaks fast no matter what urgent matter confronts her character. The courtroom scenes are the weakest moments of the film.

CHASING FREEDOM mistakenly regards the 9-11 terrorists as if they were Afgans, when in fact they were really Saudi nationals. However, CHASING FREEDOM does well to capture some of the brutality of the Taliban towards Afgan women. CHASING FREEDOM was produced by the COURT TV network. It is a barely passable view, which makes it above average for the made-for-TV genre.

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.

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.

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.