By: Wes Luka Destin Daniel Cretton’s 2019 film, Just Mercy, is the true story of lawyer Bryan Stevenson as he works to free incarcerated Alabama inmates from death row. The story centers mainly around an inmate, Walter McMillian, and Stevenson’s … Continue reading Just Mercy: A Look Into the American Justice System
Damari Davenport The 2019 film Just Mercy directed by Destin Daniel Cretton follows a young lawyer named Bryan Stevenson who founded the Equal Justice Initiative. Bryan stumbled upon Walter McMillian, who is a Black man that was framed for the … Continue reading Race, Gender, and The Justice System
By: Matthew Bracey After spending much of his life fleeing, moving, and scraping by in the Middle East, Ibrahim Jarrah comes to the United States to become a citizen at the worst possible time, the day before 9/11/2021. Though he … Continue reading The Power of a Good Deed: The Citizen
By Chelsea Strother The Citizen, directed by Sam Kadi, follows citizen Ibrahim Jarrah, who has recently become an American citizen who travels to America for the first time after winning the green card lottery. Expecting to prosper in the “land of the free,” he is met with the aftershocks of 9/11 a day after he arrives. This leads to his wrongful arrest, where he is then released. After proving his innocence, the film tracks his struggles, from finding a secure job to a court case where he is threatened to be deported if he cannot prove his status as a … Continue reading The Xenophobic View in The Citizen
Alonda Hamilton A dollar and a dream. It’s the 20th century and another young, but yet lucky- unlucky man wins a lottery, but not for money, it’s for his life. Ebrahim is about to speak his dreams and destiny into existence. This young man will deal with defeat, loss, hurt, betrayal amongst just the everyday life Lessons he is about to endure. The time and place are set in New York, a place where Ebrahim will also have to learn just like this place (New York), how it feels to have to stand, fall and get back up! The characters … Continue reading They Love Me, They Love Me Not, They Love Me As A Citizen…
The Citizen, by director Sam Kadi, is a 2012 film that revolves around the life of Ibrahim Jarrah, a Middle Eastern man who has won the American green card lottery. Soon after his arrival to the United States, there is a catastrophic terrorist attack at the Twin Towers, planned by Middle Eastern terrorists. This incident causes a lot of commotion and intense xenophobia toward other Middle Eastern people, affecting Ibrahim’s chances to get a job and be accepted by society. Throughout the film, Ibrahim meets different citizens who teach him valuable lessons. This film explores the themes of xenophobia, prejudice, … Continue reading The Citizen: Prejudice and Xenophobia towards immigrants
Cassie Kotrch Ibrahim Jarrah arrives in the U.S. on Sept. 10, 2001, after winning the green card lottery. The attacks of 9/11 forever change his life and the landscape of the country he has immigrated to. Ibrahim faces many obstacles throughout the next few years and seems to rise above them every time with true “American grit” and perseverance, highlighting the main theme of the film: the noble pursuit of the American dream can be achieved despite all and the Arab immigrant struggle post 9/11. American Flag on 9/11 Memorial, Photo by Lars Mulder from Pexels, CC Throughout the film, … Continue reading The Many Agendas of ‘The Citizen’ and Post 9/11 U.S.
Vinnie Lionas The Citizen follows the life of Ibrahim Jarrah and his journey to America after winning the green card lottery. Unfortunately, he arrives in New York the day before the 9/11 attacks. Due to his ethnic background and the … Continue reading “The Citizen”: An Analysis
Ryan Lake The Citizen is a 2012 film about a man named Ibrahim Jarrah who comes to America from the Middle East on September 10th, 2001, with a goal of becoming an American citizen. After the 9/11 attacks that take place a day after his arrival, however, Jarrah is quickly named a suspect and is not released from custody until months after the attack. Upon his release, Jarrah faces many ups and downs. Five years after his arrival, Jarrah receives a letter saying that he has been recommended for deportation back to his home country. In attempt to fight the … Continue reading The Citizen: Taking the Good With the Bad
Noah Morriss Sam Kadi’s The Citizen is a story about Ibrahim, an Arabian immigrant, who wins the green card lottery and plans to move to America to find a new life. His plans are interrupted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks which make acclimating to the States much more difficult. Ibrahim maintains a positive attitude throughout the film even after being inundated with countless issues involving racism, class, stereotypes, freedom of speech, and religion. In the end, his perseverance and ideals prevail allowing him to successfully become an American citizen and to live out his American Dream. The Citizen takes place … Continue reading The Citizen: To Dream The American Dream
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