ULTIMATE CITIZENS

Showing In

EFF25: Ultimate Citizens & February (Or: Si Nos Dejan)
State Theater Fri, Mar 14 7:00 PM - 9:05 PM
The films celebrate immigrant lives with two unique angles. In ULTIMATE CITIZENS, Jamshid is an Iranian who came to study in 1970’s America, and due to the Revolution, never went “home.” As a guidance counselor in Seattle Public Schools, Jamshid’s best work takes place out of the building and on a playing field with “his kids,” the children of refugees and immigrants. Their parents are in the grips of their own struggles to make a living and a home in a strange land. Mr. Jamshid is the charismatic, fiery, funny human with a Frisbee in hand, who is the first to show that "love wins" on the field, off the field, at home with family, or boldly forging a new community, in a new country - one kid, chicken, extreme mile and friend at a time. "February": A recent immigrant, Miguel (David Ezekiel Duran), struggles to fit into a small town in Wisconsin in February until discovering ice fishing. A portrait of family, resilience, the immigrant experience, and the things we have in common.
Film Info
Release Year:2024
Genre:Youth
Sports
Immigrants
Refugees
Education
Community
Production Country:United States
United States
Original Language:English
Cast/Crew Info
Director:Francine Strickwerda
Cast:Jamshid Khajavi
Produced By:Francine Strickwerda
Screenwriter:Francine Strickwerda

Description

In ULTIMATE CITIZENS, Jamshid is an Iranian who came to study in 1970’s America, and due to the Revolution, never went “home.” As a guidance counselor in Seattle Public Schools, Jamshid’s best work takes place out of the building and on a playing field with “his kids,” the children of refugees and immigrants. Their parents are in the grips of their own struggles to make a living and a home in a strange land. Mr. Jamshid is the charismatic, fiery, funny human with a Frisbee in hand, who is the first to show that "love wins" on the field, off the field, at home with family, or boldly forging a new community, in a new country - one kid, chicken, extreme mile and friend at a time.