Errol Morris explores migrant family separation at Venice Film Festival

Errol Morris premiered his documentary 'Separated' at the Venice Film Festival, focusing on the U.S. government's border policies that led to the separation of migrant families during the Trump administration. The film highlights the traumatic experiences of families affected by these policies, which resulted in thousands of children being taken from their parents as the government pursued criminal prosecutions for illegal border crossings. Morris aims to shed light on the broader implications of these actions, emphasizing that the issue transcends the Trump era. The documentary is based on Jacob Soboroff's book 'Separated: Inside an American Tragedy' and features dramatic recreations of family separations, interviews with key figures, and a historical context provided by various U.S. presidents discussing immigration. Morris and Soboroff hope to create a lasting memory of these events, urging viewers to internalize the truth of what occurred. In response to the public outcry and legal challenges, the Trump administration reversed its policy in 2018, but the damage had already been done, with nearly 4,000 children separated from their families between 2017 and 2021. President Joe Biden's administration has since taken steps to reunite families, with a task force reconnecting around 700 children by 2023, although many remain separated. Morris expressed the urgency of releasing the film before the upcoming U.S. presidential election, believing it could influence public opinion and policy discussions surrounding immigration and family separation. The film, which runs for 93 minutes, currently lacks distribution but aims to serve as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of the past.