https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDnYePpETho&t=1160s
“New Migration in Europe” explores the lives of migrants in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin as they navigate their arrival cities’ cultures and their own futures.
The filmmakers truly seem to employ ethnographic methods in this film. One of the most ethnographic aspects of this film is that it draws heavily from in-depth interviews with migrants. When interviewing a middle-aged migrant who is also a government official, they film him interacting with constituents, eating a meal with friends, and walking around his arrival city. The filmmakers also appeared to conduct their project over an extended period of time. From scenes of busy streets to intimate interviews with migrants, the filmmakers appeared to intentionally choose powerful scenes that integrate the lives of migrants. Another notable aspect is that the filmmakers use a variety of shots to illustrate the arrival cities. As the above-mentioned man walks around the city, the filmmakers film him from wide shots filmed mid-range and from a low-angle, which humanize him to viewers effectively.
Given that this film was published in July 2017, I am curious to learn of the personal difficulties that the filmmakers faced while shooting this film. Immigration in Europe is one of the hottest issues in the region today, and several major news outlets feature stories centering on this issue. Is it possible that in shooting and premiering this film, the filmmakers unintentionally contributed to an oversaturation of immigrant stories in the media? This question might seem like a relatively minor critique of an otherwise intentional, nuanced film. Nevertheless, this question is important to note when considering the wider implications of film.