Chasing Freedom

This taut and important film CHASING FREEDOM was apparently a made for television film in 2004. It is a shame it never made it into the theaters as it is a searing document about the problems of victims from foreign countries seeking asylum in the United States. The script by Barbara Samuels is a brave indictment against the Taliban's activities in Afghanistan as well as a penetrating examination of US bureaucratic bungling in dealing with those who get caught up in the quagmire of red tape in trying to find an escape hatch from their homeland cruelty. It is an honest look at a problem, unbiased, where none of the parties are blameless.

A member of a high profile New York law firm, Libby (Juliette Lewis) is told by her boss that despite her overtaxed workload as a securities lawyer she must by contract take on some pro bono work (as much to make her boss look good as to keep a law firm's reputation spotless). Libby begrudgingly takes on a pro bono case in the department closest to her office - the INS where kind and desperate Eric (Brian Markinson) pleads with her to represent a woman seeking asylum. Libby has a negative attitude toward the process, as much because she knows nothing about asylum cases in law as the fact that she is doing this under duress. Eric introduces her to her client Meena (Layla Alizada) who has fled Afghanistan to escape death because she dared to teach children in Kabul despite the Taliban's condemnation of schools. Gradually the harden Libby discovers the life story of Meena and softens to her cause, devoting herself to achieving the impossible - obtaining asylum for a woman who has no proof of identity and is 'detained' in a brusque INS center like a prisoner.

Though Meena arrived in the US in 2000, by the time her case is extended it is 2001 - and 9/11 has happened, an incident that placed Afghanistan in a bad light. The manner in which Libby works with Meena to gain her flight to freedom is a well-paced, gripping, startling tale - and this is based on a true story.

Juliette Lewis again demonstrates the scope of her talent by convincingly transforming the hard, workaholic lawyer into the compassionate believer in human rights and she is able to make this character development with being cloying or stereotyped. It is a fine performance in a role not of the usual Lewis type. Equally excellent is Layla Alizada, wholly believable as a woman who has endured atrocities only to enter a land that seems cold to her plea for asylum. The two actresses make a fine team. The remainder of the cast is superb and the direction by Don McBrearty is on target. There is a hauntingly beautiful music score by Jonathan Goldsmith the weaves Middle Eastern and Western music into a lush, additive and atmospheric score. This film deserves attention, especially today when our borders are even more blockaded. It is wise to remember the individuals caught up in the problem of seeking asylum. Grady Harp

Court TV deserves some kudos for this film. Layla Alizada in her first major role as the desperate asylum applicant fleeing from Taliban-controlled Afghan really makes us care about her plight. The flashback scenes from her past hark back to those clandestinely filmed scenes of brutality toward women that were smuggled out of that country. Her acting is understated and moving. Juliette Lewis' performance as the securities lawyer who is a fish-out-of-water in the New York immigration courts is less convincing, but it doesn't undermine the power of the film too much.

It is a well-done depiction of the many hurdles that our immigration system places on those who manage to escape terrible oppression and make it here without their `papers.' I don't deny the difficulties facing immigration judges in presiding over such a system, but the Bush Administration's policy of automatic detention (read `jail') of asylum applicants (often lengthy) and its removal of sympathetic Board of Immigration Appeals members has made this situation worse.

Every member of Congress ought to see this film-but it is also a compelling story well told.

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.

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.