Parents' Guide to Between Borders

This fact-based drama is just so-so, but building compassion for refugees is never a waste of time—and, sadly, never loses relevance. As Violetta says in immigration court, Jesus was a refugee, which may remind viewers that this topic is literally one of biblical proportions. That said, director Mark Freiburger takes a somewhat unusual approach to create visceral empathy, following a family that faces lower stakes. Movies about refugees generally feel pretty life-or-death. And, as Between Borders points out, the U.S. government tends to see persecution in much the same way. The question that opens and closes the film is the same question that determines whether asylum should be granted: Did the Petrosyans encounter a direct act of violence? It's a black-and-white question, but the film shows how gray the answer can be. And it then goes further, asking viewers whether someone has to literally look down the barrel of a gun to be worthy of welcome and assistance.

This faith-based true story embraces humility, both in its characters and its storytelling. Once they're in Russia, the Petrosyans still don't find many friendly faces—until members of a local church show up to help them move in, find jobs, and receive support. Viewers later learn that this church exists because it's funded by the parishioners of a church in West Virginia. So the story could have been told from the Americans' point-of-view, to ramp up the savior element or pat themselves on the back—but it's not. Instead, the entire American church is represented by one American man who has only a couple of lines. By choosing not to overplay the U.S. hand, the movie highlights principles that many people of faith hold to: Love one another, treat others like you would want to be treated, and, to help yourself, help others.