Search - The Letter, An American Town and the Somali Invasion. on DVD

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED!

JD Knight | New York, USA | 09/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""A documentary thrill-ride... Ziad Hamzeh's new documentary THE LETTER moves as breathlessly as a Hollywood thriller - only it's much more frightening because it's true." Russell Scott Smith, New York Post.

"Mr. Hamzeh's film is responsible and intelligent, and important as a record of a disturbing incident. And there is something particularly thrilling about the sight of white Mainers, bundled up against the New England snows, happily swaying and shouting the word 'freedom' to the beat of an African drum." Anita Gates, New York Times.

"Undeniably strong... THE LETTER has a terrifying in-your-face immediacy, a strong cross-section of talking heads on both sides of the debate, and cuts deeply into the cultural wars dividing this country." Kevin Thomas, The Los Angeles Times.

"...A powerful and timely portrait of the tensions that can be generated by immigration situations, especially in a post-Sept. 11 world. THE LETTER is an important social document that merits widespread exposure." Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter.

"...A thoughtful, historically grounded, and utterly absorbing look at a quintessential American experience." Hazel-Dawn Dumpert, LA Weekly.

"Ziad H. Hamzeh's THE LETTER is an especially dramatic work... A study of the American Dream in collapse." Robert Koehler, Variety.

"Structured like a narrative feature about the events leading to a violent showdown... Hamzeh uses filmmaking techniques action-movie directors use to show the growing tension and arming-up of the opposing forces. It feels like [Martin Scorcese's] 'Gangs of New York' acted out by local police
and ordinary people." Glenn Andreiev, Films In Review.

"...A timely, thoughtful, and riveting chronicle... Ziad Hamzeh juggles an impressive number of subjects, including anti-Muslim sentiment, the neo-Nazi movement, institutionalized prejudice, and the nation's immigrant heritage... Hamzeh keeps the ideas flying and the story building... As an affecting work of compassionate craftsmanship, THE LETTER delivers." Rick Kisonak, Film Threat Magazine."