A firestorm of controversy erupts when the Lewiston mayor sends an open letter to the Somali community asking them to tell friends and family not to move into the city. It triggers a conflict that escalates into competing 'hate' and 'peace' rallies held simultaneously and separated by only a few miles.
The 'hate' rally staged by Reverend Matt Hale's World Church of the Creator, a white separatist group, and a 'peace' rally organized by the Many & One Coalition, a local community group, necessitates the largest police action in Maine's history to ensure the safety of the city's residents.
The filmmakers website refers to images captured of adults screaming and shouting outside of The World Church of the Creator rally whilst a child holds a sign that reads: "My best friend is from another country."
Premiering at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival in November 2003, The Letter "explores in microcosm the dynamics of immigration many cities and countries worldwide now confront in this post-9/11 age, and the clash of alien cultures and religions that inevitably follows".
The Letter has been nominated for Best Documentary at the 12th annual Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film will screen at the festival on February 13th & 14th during Black History Month.
Contrast this with the news that a grassroots organization of Asian Americans has begun a campaign against the film Lost In Translation and "its heavy use of Japanese stereotypes for humour".
Through actions designed to reach members of the motion picture industry eligible to vote in the Academy Awards and other industry awards, The Lost In Racism Campaign argues that "such depictions perpetuate racial and cultural insensitivity as well as misperceptions that are harmful to Asian Americans."
Whilst the Cyberista editorial team eagerly awaits an opportunity to view The Letter; we have seen Lost in Translation.
If anything the film's main characters - played by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson - are the real targets for the wry observational humour of filmmaker Sofia Coppola.
Coppola's script perfectly capture's the 'fish out of water' nature of the situations the American character's find themselves in. If anything Coppola is deftly and subtly lampooning her own countrymen. Not the Japanese.
Compared to the Lewiston Somali's, The Lost in Racism campaigners have got off very, very lightly.
Cyberista readers no doubt will make up their own minds.
LINKS
Critically Acclaimed Documentary The Letter Nominated For Best Documentary At Pan-African Film Festival
12th annual Pan-African Film Festival, Los Angeles
Asian Americans Campaign Against "Lost In Translation" Oscar Bid