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Major awards shows play a key role in shaping American cultural identity. They reflect societal values, define what is considered significant in entertainment, and have the power to influence perspectives on history and the present moment. Among them, the Oscars stand as the most prestigious and globally recognized, dating back to 1929. The 97th Academy Awards included several nominated films that engaged directly with contemporary complexities of human movement and migration, offering a people-centered perspective on issues often reduced to simplistic narratives. One film in particular, A Lien, captures the heartbreaking reality faced by thousands of mixed-status families in the United States today.
The 13-minute film that was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film follows a family attending a required immigration appointment to adjust the father’s status. While he is inside the interview with his young daughter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrives and begins detaining people. Through shifting perspectives, the film follows the mother and father’s fear and desperation, as well as the 5-year-old daughter’s innocent understanding of the situation. As the family’s fate hangs in the balance, the film builds a level of anxiety that mirrors the daily reality many families endure. It ends with a stark reminder that ICE frequently arrests people who are undocumented at their mandatory interviews and appointments.
The title A Lien is a deliberate play on words, highlighting how immigrants in the U.S. are assigned an “alien registration number” while also illustrating that when families are separated, there’s “a lien” on people’s loved ones and their possessions. Completed in 2022 and first shown to the public in 2023, the film’s Oscar nomination in 2025 comes at a particularly critical moment in the United States. This year has been marked by heightened threats of mass deportations, creating a climate of fear that has forced children to stay home from school, adults to miss work and medical appointments, and families to attend church virtually to avoid detection. The film’s portrayal of these experiences influenced the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to partner with the creative team behind A Lien as part of an impact campaign aimed at protecting the rights of immigrants in the United States.
As Jessica Waits, Director of Artists and Entertainment at the ACLU, told Variety, “We know the harrowing story in ‘A Lien’ is happening all over our country. By developing impact campaigns like this, we give people a glimpse of what is happening in our country and humanize the lives of immigrants to create systemic change.” Through this partnership, the film becomes more than a compelling piece of cinema—it becomes a tool for advocacy, using storytelling to challenge policies and narratives that threaten the wellbeing of immigrant communities.
This year’s Oscar nominations reflected a growing appetite among American audiences for stories that go beyond binary political debates and capture the complexities of lived experiences. At a time when fundamental notions of belonging in the U.S. are being challenged, films like A Lien serve as a powerful counterpoint. By elevating these stories, the Oscars are not just recognizing artistic achievement; they are also amplifying voices and experiences that might otherwise go unheard, reminding us of the power of film to shape conversations and inspire change.
The film A Lien is available to watch for free on Vimeo. Viewers should be advised that its portrayal of family separation and deportation may be emotionally triggering.
FILED UNDER: ACLU, family separation
