Starring Hollywood stars like Jimmy Jean-Louis of “Heroes”, Mirlyne Dorvilus, Phat Girlz, Kandace Cummings, Cristian DeJesus, Roger Dillingham and Linda Starks, “In America:The Story of the Soul Sisters “ a movie by Nigerian born Rahman Oladigbolu on Thursday re-echoed the reality of the lives of African immigrants in the USA. It premièred at Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lagos.

Rahman chose to address this age-long problem using the medium of the tube.

In an encounter with HVP last week, Rahman said “the primary motive behind the production of the movie is the wish to deal with the immigration issue from human perspective.

cast of the movie

In an attempt to enlighten the ambivalent American perspectives on the issue, I wanted to show the humanity of immigrants, and how they are like every other American, with dreams, hopes, fears, and character complexities.”

“At this time in the history of America, we think the climate is ripe for such a movie, and this is one of the reasons we were very passionate about getting it made.

The movie doesn’t intend to take sides or argue a point in the on-going immigration debate, however, it is an artistic venture to reveal the life of a typical immigrant, and provides the debaters with additional information about the subjects of their arguments, symbolized in the character of Sade George.”

The movie, he further explained was an attempt to bridge the unnecessary and internecine tension between many African immigrants and African-Americans in the US.

“In meetings with key individuals and groups in Boston and around the country, including Massachusetts’ first black Mayoral candidate Mr. Mel King, and New York House of Rep Mr. Major Owens, I have learned, disturbingly, about the pervasiveness of this misunderstanding.

Hence, this movie tries to bring light into the areas of mutual reconciliation. As the first movie dealing with this smoldering crisis, it is the hope of the filmmakers to hold up a mirror and nudge the people to see themselves and find a solution to the problem.”

The movie recently won the 2011 African Movie Academy Award’s (AMAA) Best Film for African Abroad Award, the 2010 Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the Roxbury International Film Festival and Artist of the Year in Boston last year.

It was also officially screened at the Cannes Pan African Film Festival and it has also been screened to critical acclaim at the International Black Film Festival in Montreal, the Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival in Virginia, and the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles.