The tension surrounding the immigration debate has been the launching point for many filmmakers in recent years.  Film such as In America, In Between Days, Fast Food Nation and the recently released Sin Nombre all tackle the numerous obstacles of immigrant travel and (non) assimilation.  First time director/writer Courtney Hunt peers into the practice of border smuggling in her 2008 award winning (Sundance Grand Jury Prize) film Frozen River.

Set along the border of Quebec and the Mohawk reservation in New York, Hunt unveils the familial and financial hardships of two single mothers - one American (Melissa Leo) and one Mohawk (Misty Upham).   After encountering each other in seemingly desperate situations, the tension brought forth by racial differences begins to subside within the discovery of shared realities.   In attempts to rid themselves from the bonds of poverty, the two begrudgingly decide to partner in a number of border smuggling runs.  And it is in these high-risk efforts that we discover this is not simply a narrative about the realities of poverty and/or immigration smuggling, but a story that centers itself on sacrifice, grace and the hope of humanity.

When it comes to bands from the other side of the pond, everyone knows the likes of U2, Oasis and Coldplay, but not enough are engaging with a band that has now released their fourth quality studio album: Doves.

Taking flight in 1998, Jez Williams, Andy Williams and Jimi Goodwin have moved from an indie rock band playing pubs in England to opening for everyone of the aforementioned British mainstays. Their sound continues to have a much edgier, gritty, indie feel than any of the “big boys,” but it is no less filled with feeling, thought and ‘let me hear that again!’ hooks.

Coffee shops are quite misleading. What appears to be a small and innocent space setup to enjoy your favorite beverage is often overshadowed by your friendly neighborhood “loud talker”. I typically spend a portion of each day in such a venue inevitably seeing and hearing more about other people’s lives than I care to. The ideas of seeing and hearing are no stranger to this site – nor are they to director/writer Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (what a name), who took the task seriously as he literally peers into the “lives of others” in his Oscar winning film Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others).

Thinking about the relationship between power and knowledge causes me to consider whether or not we are truly free to ascertain the knowledge that shapes our reality. One way to consider this is to wrestle with how knowledge is created. In Expelled:No Intelligence Allowed, we are taken on an exploratory ride into the wonderful academic jungle of power and knowledge, using the Intelligent Design theory as our tram and Ben Stein as our tour guide. Actually, I think Stein would have looked quite perfect in khaki Bermuda shorts and a safari-style hat but his slightly disheveled lawyer-like appearance suits him and the documentary much better. Regardless of Stein's wardrobe selection, the exploration into the creation of knowledge is an important one.