S5.E8 ∙ Behind Enemy Lines

Bow is a little girl from Thailand, who was abandoned at birth. She has HIV and was born with disfiguring fetal alcohol syndrome. Our dream came true when our foundation could offer Bow a chance to come to the U.S. for a few reconstructive facial surgeries and now she can smile again.

A woman gears up for her fiftieth birthday, plagued by memories of a disastrous fortieth year. She decides to make 50 positive by tackling 50 new things in her fiftieth year. Not a bucket list, these events range from serious to rather frivolous: rollerblading, having a soul retrieval, selling peanuts at the ballpark, taking a sword play class, jet skiing, taking a friend to chemo, making a plaster face mask, and more. This film documents that journey, and her post year reflections and discoveries. What started as a documentary about life and vitality, becomes a funny and poignant exploration into change and facing fear.

For over 20 years, Patricia McCully, a Huntington Beach resident and retired teacher, has been bringing hope to people in the highlands of post-war Nicaragua. Pat tells us how, appalled by the devastation of the Contra War, she created a vibrant community center, Circulo de Amigas, in a tough barrio on the outskirts of Jinotega. The movie shows how Circulo is keeping 120 girls in school and out of trouble. Several families share a tour of their homes and neighborhood. The dignity of the people of Barrio Linda Vista Sur is inspiring.

What did it take to legalize same-sex marriage in the State of New York? Follow Marriage Equality New York (or MENY), an all-volunteer grassroots organization as they become a driving force in game-changing win for marriage equality in New York and at the Supreme Court. Cathy Marino-Thomas, Edie Windsor, Christine Quinn, Senator Thomas Duane, Danny O'Donnell, Margaret Cho, Cynthia Nixon are among a few of the many folks along for the ride on this historic journey and are met with cultural, political and religious opposition. See both sides of the coin as history is made in the State of New York.

Focusing on migrant adaptive strategies, this short film shows how Hmong refugees who have been resettled throughout the world maintain their cultural uniqueness through food. It is the prefect length for classroom use, and can be used in Hmong studies, refugee studies, ethnic studies, Asian studies, and courses on culture and foodways.

This is the story of Sean Casey and the Sean Casey Animal Rescue (SCAR) organization, a Brooklyn, New York-based shelter with an emphasis on caring for even the most unusual of nature's creatures.