Independent Lens Season 12 Episode 25 Welcome to Shelbyville

Welcome to Shelbyville is the 25th episode of the 12th season of Independent Lens and is a documentary film that explores the changing face of America through the lens of a small Tennessee town.

The film focuses on Shelbyville, a town that has experienced a significant shift in demographics as an influx of immigrants from Mexico and Somalia has settled there. Through interviews with community members and local leaders, the film examines how these changes have impacted the town and its residents.

The film's main focus is on the reactions of the white and African American residents to these changes. Some, like the local mayor and a white farmer who employs Somali workers, embrace the diversity, while others are more wary and struggle with feelings of resentment and fear.

The film also touches on issues of religion and gender. The Somali immigrants are largely Muslim, and the film explores how their faith and modest dress have been met with curiosity and sometimes suspicion from their new neighbors. Additionally, the film follows a female Mexican immigrant who is working to organize a local Hispanic festival and faces pushback from some members of the community.

Throughout the film, personal stories are woven together to illustrate the larger changes occurring in the town. Viewers meet a Somali woman who struggles to balance her traditional values with her desire to fit in, a Mexican man who longs for his family to join him in the United States, and a white woman who learns to confront her own prejudices.

The film ultimately presents a complex picture of a town in transition and the challenges and opportunities that come with such changes. It encourages viewers to consider their own attitudes and assumptions about diversity and to reflect on the importance of community cohesion in a rapidly changing world.

Overall, Welcome to Shelbyville is a thought-provoking and nuanced portrait of a town grappling with issues of race, religion, and identity.