American Soul

A nostalgic short documentary reminiscing the pursuit of the American Dream.

Year: 2019
Run Time: 4:33
Directed, Produced, Edited by Radha Mehta

My father often says "I must be an American Soul in an Indian body." I get what he means as I continue to learn of his and my mother's journey before and after coming to the US, all throughout my childhood until now.
Arriving to the US just a few days before our country made history by landing on the moon, and while struggling to make ends meet as a civil engineer not knowing if and when he'd get drafted to the Vietnam War - nothing deterred my father's desire to achieve the "American Dream".

My parents reminiscing of their journey to come here and earn their way to afford the best life they could for themselves, their children (my brother and I), and grandchildren (my son and daughter), I can't help but also be inspired and re-ignited to believe in my own American Dream.

Immigrants in this land can be incredibly powerful change-makers for our future when they're truly believed in and afforded the same opportunities as the privileged.

Believe in immigrants as we all strive to believe in that American Dream again.