With remarkable access, directors Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson capture the inner workings of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), documenting refugees and officials as they move through the asylum-seeking process. The law states that asylum may be offered if the applicant can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution. The filmmakers record the interviews that will determine whether applicants are allowed to stay in the U.S. from both sides of the desk—the refugees who make their appeals, and the officials who determine the outcome. Asylum seekers describe harrowing circumstances and reflect on what’s at stake. Interviewers reveal how they interpret information, especially when the stories they hear don’t line up with their perceptions. Rooted in human exchanges, many through interpreters, a thorny, vulnerable procedure evolves onscreen. The consequences are life-changing; the potential for misunderstanding is vast. Avoiding superficial conclusions, Well-Founded Fear wrestles with ambiguity as it explores the limitations of a process based in personal assessment.  ST

Q&A following screening.