I’m going to be honest: I got a little nervous when I viewed the trailer for this film. I am not a horrendously political person, but I do have pretty firm views on things. And besides, this is a film column, not a place for me to air my opinions. The topic in question is illegal immigration. It has been a serious hot-button issue for years, one which has the tendency to fiercely divide anyone with an opinion.

The film we are discussing today is “They Come to America,” which will play for a week at Village 8 Theater as part of their Louisville Exclusives series. “They Come to America” is a documentary by entrepreneur Dennis Lynch (no relation to the better-known filmmaking Lynch). The tagline for the film says it all: “The cost of illegal immigration.” Lynch takes his camera and objectively (he says) explores this issue.

My nervousness comes from the fact that, based on the trailer, the topic is not shown terribly objectively. The issue is so much more complex than mere drug running and “they took our jobs” – it is also about quality of life for all people, desperation for better circumstances, and – yes, I’ll say it – American elitism.

But what do I know? I haven’t even seen the documentary yet, just the trailer, which looks quite biased. But let’s let the filmmaker speak:

They Come to America is anything but politically correct.  There is no slant to the left or right.  I am not a racist, I don't hate Latinos, I am not funded by anyone.  What I am is a film maker who has made a film that exposes the truth, and the truth is illegal immigration is an issue ignored by too many politicians.  It is a crime that comes at a tremendous human and financial cost to both Americans and illegal immigrants.

His full statement, as well as more information about the film, can be found at the film’s website.

“They Come to America” plays at Village 8 until next Thursday, May 3. Village 8 is located at 4014 Dutchmans Lane.

Image: Internet Movie Database