Film tells stories of Arab Americans searching for the American dream
This photo is part of the documentary “A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans.”By Greg Burnet
The Plain Dealer
“A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans,” is a documentary by filmmaker Abe Kasbo about contributions Middle Eastern immigrants made to the United States.The film makes its Cleveland debut on Tuesday at Cuyahoga Community College.
The film presents the stories of immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula who left home to pursue the American dream.
It premiered at the Washington, D.C., International Film Festival and also was shown at the Arabian Sights Festival there. Screenings have also taken place in New York, Houston, Atlanta and Toledo.
This is Kasbo’s first film. He and his family immigrated to New Jersey from Aleppo, Syria, in 1980.
He wanted to tell this story not just as an Arab one, but an American one.
“The Arab-American story is the American story. It’s part and parcel of the overall American experience. When I immigrated here in 1980, my perception of America was that of what I saw in the movies. It was a place of opportunity and equality, yet over the years I’ve encountered misperceptions and misconceptions in the media and in everyday life that I believe needed to be addressed and changed. And this is my way, as an American citizen, of contributing to the country that’s been so good to me and to the rich heritage that I hold so dear,” says Kasbo in an email.
The movie will be shown from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Western Campus, Room 223 of the Health Careers and Sciences building, 11000 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma. It will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. at Corporate College West, Room 112, 25425 Center Ridge Road, Westlake.
Kasbo will be at both locations to discuss the film. Both are free and open to the public.
