SYNOPSIS
In a struggling immigrant household, a little girl’s birthday wish, and her brother’s well-intentioned mistake teach their workaholic father that being present for their family is as important as working for their future.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Dos Bros Force (the power of siblings) is a deeply personal film that portrays two sides of the immigrant experience – the wide-eyed wonder of dreamy kids and the harsh realities of the all-sacrificing parents. For an immigrant, happiness is a magical destination somewhere in the future. We spend our lives toiling for a work permit, a permanent resident card, or a citizen status that would help us build a secure future for our family, all while ignoring our physical and mental well-being and often leaving our families for weeks or months, owing to work pressures. Like many of my family and friends I too am stuck in the relentless pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Discussions with other immigrants all end up with the same stories. However, in most of these stories, one perspective is lost – that of immigrant kids who only want to cherish the present. Witnessing the struggles of kids longing for their always-at-work parents forced me to re-evaluate my own life. That was when Dos Bros Force took shape. While the plot of the film is based on my love for video games and my childhood misadventures with my elder brother, the overarching future vs present theme is a reflection of my own struggles and the struggles of countless other immigrants in the US. With the film, I want to open a conversation so that parents and kids can connect with each other and understand what’s really important to them. The film is a thank you note to my brother and all siblings who love and protect their bratty brothers and sisters. It is a dedication to my parents and every parent who sacrifices their lives for their kids. Besides being a nuanced portrayal of the immigrant struggle, Dos Bros Force ultimately is a universal movie about love – the love that forces a brother to steal for his sister; a wife to confront her husband; and a father to realize that being present for his family is as important as working for their future.