Arid Zone

(Zona árida)
Fernanda Pessoa | Documentary

2019 | 76 minutes | Brazil

Brazilian director Fernanda Pessoa was 15 years old and experienced being a foreign exchange student for one year in conservative Mesa, AR. Now she’s back to try to understand her experience.

Synopsis

What's it like to be a foreigner in the most conservative city in the United States? In 2001, Brazilian director Fernanda Pessoa was 15 years old and experienced being a foreign exchange student for one year in Mesa, Arizona, considered the USA’s most conservative city. Fifteen years later – and two months before Donald Trump’s election – she’s back to try to understand her experience there and the conservative ideas on topics such as the Mexican border, the cowboy lifestyle, religiosity, and patriotism.

Citation
Main credits

Pessoa, Fernanda (film director)
Pessoa, Fernanda (film producer)
Gonçalves, António (film producer)
Jinkings, Maeve (narrator)

Other credits

Cinematography, Rodrigo Levy; editor, Germany de Oliveira, Mari Moraga; music, Pedro Santiago.


Citation
Cataloging
Keywords
conservatism,immigration,US immigration,right-wing politics,American right,culture,identity,identity politics,culture wars,left wing,right wing,intersectionality,identity groups,civilization,literacy,humanism,cancel culture,online culture,cultural revolution,cultural diffusion,culture shock,popular culture,pop culture,material culture,cultural capital,cultural assimilation ,education,school,pedagogy,schooling,elementary education,secondary education,upper education,advanced education,education gap,learning,schooling,university,college,degrees,high school,middle school,junior high school,public school,private school,independent school,elementary school,schooling,school policy,educational equity,migration studies,migrant studies,immigration studies,refugee studies,diaspora studies,resettlement studies,settlement studies,migration,migrant,immigration,refugee,diaspora,resettlement,settlement,refugees,international migration,continental migration,resettling,settlers,settler,migrant,migrant studies,first generation immigrant,first generation immigration,new americans,new spaniards,women,womanhood,gender,girl,girlhood,mother,motherhood,female,cis woman,cis female,trans woman,trans female,women’s rights,women’s issues,lady,ladies,gentlewoman,madame,miss,missus,mrs.,dame,damsel,ingenue,lass,maid,maiden,belle,gal,ladyfriend,girlfriend,dear,darling,widow,matron,dowager,gender,gender equality,gender pay gap,women’s liberation,women’s rights,sociology,anthropology,psychology,sociological,sociological perspectives,conflict theory,human conflicts,sociological thinking,conflict perspective,topics in sociology,sociology topics,sociology studies,social studies,people and cultures,human relations,human relationships,cultural studies,culture studies ,political science,micropolitics,macropolitics,political theory,political education,political movements,political thinking,political criticism,poly sci,polysci,political sci,political sciences,political history,history of politics,political systems,religion,spirituality,organized religion,soul,spiritual beliefs,religious beliefs,belief systems,branches of religion,religious sects,sects,gods and goddesses,monotheism,theism,pantheism,polytheism,spiritual awakening; "Arid Zone"; Pragda Films
Clips
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Festivals

DocsBarcelona; Dok Leipzig - Honorable Mention

DIRECTOR: Fernanda Pessoa

NATIONALITY: Brazil

YEAR: 2019

GENRE: Documentary

LANGUAGE: Portuguese; English

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

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