Broken Land

America is ‘the finest nation in the world’, but not for everyone. An endless row of high metal poles forms the boundary between Mexico and the United States. Even cats can’t pass between them, and climbing over is virtually impossible. From different perspectives, the beautifully shot Swiss documentary Broken Land examines this border area, which also divides the locals ideologically.
On one hand there are the conservatives, with opinions that not only apply to Mexican migrants but are heard more often: ‘These people should be sent back.’ On the other hand, there are the more sympathetic Americans, who leave bottles of water for those risking their lives at night in an attempt to reach America: ‘America thinks every Mexican is a bad person.’
Broken Land shows details that are not easy to forget; for example, Harris’ hawks breed more quickly in the border region than elsewhere, as there is more carrion for them here.

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