Ellis

Confused by the earlier review here, but for those of us on US shores that are intimate with the profound import of Ellis Island to this country, it's a touching tribute to those who were hoping for a better life but were either quarantined or turned away, and reflects on the continuing struggles of immigrants today as well. The enigmatic French artist JR evokes an unsettling portrait of the ghosts of the Ellis Island Hospital complex, abandoned for over 60 years and rarely granted public access, and Robert DeNiro, in a refreshing contemporary serious turn, deftly narrates and embodies the travails of one particular immigrant as we travel through the crumbling hallways and cracked windows of the past. A perfect subject and location for a short film, and a heartfelt homage to not only the US but the universal immigration experience. It's only 15 minutes, and it's free. Watch it.