On May 24, 2019, Netflix released a short film documentary titled “After Maria”, following three Puerto Rican women as they “navigate their families’ uncertain futures” in New York City months after Hurricane Maria “destroyed the island.” Within hours of the films public release (had a run at some festivals) petitions were signed by thousands of offended individuals claiming the film had a poor representation of the “very real” aftermath of those still on the island.
At first I didn't see an issue and then thought the title and the content didn't connect. Talking with my mom, Jackie Bocachica, I start to realize that so many are pissed because the title is misleading and there is some expectation of the perspective of a Puerto Rican during the aftermath.
Then there's the issue of the "type" of individuals that were covered for the film. Cool, they are women!, I mean it's 2019 and every film is gonna focus on the WOMAN. But it was the character of the women portrayed in contrast to the viral images of the elderly woman carrying jugs of water or serving food in the street. It is the image of women who LEFT/RAN/FLED or were FORCED/HELPLESS to come to NYC with almost nothing and try to make it while relying on Federal Aid.
Ok, the film showed some small efforts like one couple that talked about their jobs, and the one lady who seemed to stay positive and encourage the others not to give in so that they are 'forced to leave' again. Again, this film is less than 40 minutes though. Either way, little was shown of how these women were WORKING towards getting out from under Federal assistance. There was more shown on how they were 'waiting' till their funding for their stay ended and they had to find somewhere else to go but nothing about what they could try to do next.
To be honest, without reading into any articles about the petitions that were signed and hearing about family member’s views on the documentary, I thought it was decent. I understood it to be a look into the lives of three families as they struggle to adjust to a new environment that they were “forced” into. But as I write this and as I spoke with my mother I wonder…what could they have done differently.
While in my last job, I learned about NYC’s efforts (for lack of a better word) to assist those in these difficult times gain support or resources to help them get medical coverage or find employment. The stories were endless. Educated, hard-working individuals struggled, and still to this day, to find a way to identify “transferrable skills” they could use to land a decent job.
It broke my heart when one lady in the film is asked if she has any family in the states she could stay with to figure things out and she replied, “My son lives in Orlando in a small room with my mom and dad.” I don’t doubt that these three families were allowing the film crew in on VERY REAL situations. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been knowing that when the film crew was packing up their gear at the end of the day that they would be heading home to some cozy place to live and that they would eventually have some kind of job elsewhere or simply not be worried about where they would be in 30 days.
I may have gone away from the point of this commentary, but the truth is this all needs to be a continued conversation. I am not going to sit here and tell you I got my history down pact and that I’m fully aware of all that is happening in and with Puerto Rico. But I know that right now, the feelings are very real.
I hope the filmmakers of the project respond to the uproar regarding the name of the film but I wouldn’t say they should remove it from Netflix. If anything, the fact that they were awarded any type of deal to have their film up has sparked new thoughts and conversations. Their determination to find people willing to share their personal, traumatic experiences for so many days is commendable. Hopefully they had the right intentions to begin with. After all the description for the film says, “Displaced by Hurricane Maria, three Puerto Rican women navigate their families' uncertain futures as their federal housing aid in New York expires.”
Then there’s the short film Candlelight that has come up in the petitions/comments as THE film to watch to get a better understanding of what it is actually like for the people on the island dealing with the aftermath. This short 8 minute film is also done rather well piecing together clips and images of the scene from the day the storm hit to present, while showing a young woman going about her day trying to handle the basic necessities. It’s narrator aims to highlight the perseverance, resilience and determination of the people on the island saying, “We haven’t survived. We’ve thrived!”
My opinion: 1. WATCH BOTH films. As someone who loves the camera and has made very small attempts to putting work out for the public, I can assure you that each filmmaker worked hard to deliver a message or story in a UNYC way. Maybe one could have considered the current climate amongst the people on and off the island a little better and chose a different title, but it does not take away from the fact that the stories were real. 2. SHARE the films with others. There are many people that have turned a blind eye to both those on the island still struggling and those that have come to the states to keep surviving. 3. GET INVOLVED. There are so many small and large LEGIT organizations continuing to impact the island of Puerto Rico with all kinds of efforts. Find one you can trust and donate time or money or goods. 4. KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT. Don’t let THEM forget that the people en La Isla Del Encanto are PEOPLE y #SOMOSFAMILIA.
**Please know that I don’t want this post to be about bashing anyone mentioned/involved. I took this opportunity to write this as a way to express my thoughts, challenge my ability to write and hopefully continue a conversation that will open doors of opportunity for me and others to get more involved in ways to support our friends and family in need. And based on the two films discussed, those people can be in your backyard or on an island.
With Love!
Eli
#UNYC #beUNYC
