Sight Unseen:
Culture, Politics, and Immigration in Public Space
A documentary in production

Teenage boys originally from Bangladesh struggle with the mayor of a small town for the right to play soccer at a public park. Hudson, NY was once a booming factory town and Bangalis moved there to work in the world’s largest button factory. The factory along with most of the industry has since left town. The struggling Bengali community takes advantage of the beautiful and nearby waterfront park. The boys play soccer, while their families walk around the riverfront. However, the community’s use of public space is threatened when the mayor tries to ban soccer from the park.

Partial Funding provided by:
Columbia County Council on the Arts Individual Artist Award (a regrant from the New York State Council on the Arts) and the Puffin Foundation

In the News

• Independent, "Innocent pastimes: Hudson filmmaker asks why immigrants arouse suspicion," January 23, 2009.
• Register-Star, "Soccer players, council dribble over park usage," August 19, 2009.
• Register-Star, "Let Them Play," August 27, 2009.