This documentary chronicles the journey of Central American (Guatemalan, Honduran, Salvadoran) migrants through Mexico from the eyes of a team of public health researchers. The film underlines the multiple health implications the dangerous journey implies for the people in movement. From skin conditions, trauma, bodily injures, malnutrition to HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases. The documentary underlies the lack of institutional presence in relation to public health and features the several “casas de migrantes;” ngo’s and informal operations along the road.
This film was produced by the Mexican Institute of Public Health.
CLÍNICA DE MIGRANTES (2016)
Director: Mixim Pozdorovkin
Clínica de Migrantes: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness investigates the intersection between immigration and health care through the work of Puentes de Salud, a volunteer-run network of clinics providing preventive care to the Latino community of South Philadelphia.
The film was premiered at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina in April,2015 where it received the Jury Award for Best Short. Here’s what the Jury said about Clínica de Migrantes:
“With extraordinary access and moving vérité footage, Clínica de Migrantes tells the powerful story of what happens when undocumented immigrants are denied basic human rights. The film takes us on an emotional journey with the staff and patients at a volunteer-run clinic where undocumented immigrants receive medical care, and addresses a critical issue in a way that is so human and real that we unanimously agreed it must be awarded this year’s Best Short Award.”
