This programme gives a voice to the invisibles – the anonymous textile worker, that guy living with his family in a rough housing project, those men we just see in uniforms going to do the unthankful work that keeps the city running. Their stories are powerful and terrible and make us realize the price that so many immigrants pay for the privilege of coming to the first world to do its hardest, dirtiest, lowest paid work.
A wonderful script and narration by Frank McCourt ties the stories together, connecting the Shan grieving for the difficulties his people face back home, with the Ecuadorian parents thankful to have their child back after his year long kidnapping by people smugglers, with the gay Indian who can declare his sexual identity freely in the New World.
A person’s story can be the most mesmerizing thing in the world and this piece is proof of that. I had only one problem with this programe: That the producers didn’t have enough faith in their wonderful material and felt that they had to jazz it up with a totally un-matching and gratuitous use of music. The funky soundtrack seemed to be constantly trying to outrun and outmuscle the content and style of McCourt’s lilting narration. Why for God’s sake do that to something that’s good enough to stand on its own?
Adding too much music to a good story is like spoiling a potentially great meal by too much garlic or too much salt. This programme is over musicked. But if you can get over that hurdle it’s a wonderful listen.
This is the best radio documentary in the entire universe. The people at WNYC are absolute geniuses and I want to be just like them when I grow up. Any piece which incorperates crazy Polish people, Senegalese rap, and Indian drag queens, yet manages to make me cry, deserves mad praise.
A colorfully personal Frank McCourt takes the listener through an hour of segments from immigrant communities in New York. The best segments were those from the reporters from local papers--Hatian Times, India abroad, etc. Their knowledge of the communities they talk about, their voice-over translations of the languages and even their sometimes rough radio presentation makes their segments personal and meaningful. I learned many things from this piece, and though I am a New Yorker, the segments were presented in a way that it would be interesting for anyone, even outside the city. Overall, a well paced visit into pockets of a city that has historically been the main point of entry for many immigrant groups.
Comments for Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in the Global City
Produced by John Rudolph and WNYC, New York Public Radio
Other pieces by WNYC
Rating Summary
3 comments
Dheera Sujan
Posted on June 09, 2005 at 01:01 AM | Permalink
Review of Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in the Global City
This programme gives a voice to the invisibles – the anonymous textile worker, that guy living with his family in a rough housing project, those men we just see in uniforms going to do the unthankful work that keeps the city running. Their stories are powerful and terrible and make us realize the price that so many immigrants pay for the privilege of coming to the first world to do its hardest, dirtiest, lowest paid work.
A wonderful script and narration by Frank McCourt ties the stories together, connecting the Shan grieving for the difficulties his people face back home, with the Ecuadorian parents thankful to have their child back after his year long kidnapping by people smugglers, with the gay Indian who can declare his sexual identity freely in the New World.
A person’s story can be the most mesmerizing thing in the world and this piece is proof of that. I had only one problem with this programe: That the producers didn’t have enough faith in their wonderful material and felt that they had to jazz it up with a totally un-matching and gratuitous use of music. The funky soundtrack seemed to be constantly trying to outrun and outmuscle the content and style of McCourt’s lilting narration. Why for God’s sake do that to something that’s good enough to stand on its own?
Adding too much music to a good story is like spoiling a potentially great meal by too much garlic or too much salt. This programme is over musicked. But if you can get over that hurdle it’s a wonderful listen.
maya rudolph
Posted on April 28, 2005 at 09:08 AM | Permalink
Review of Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in the Global City
This is the best radio documentary in the entire universe. The people at WNYC are absolute geniuses and I want to be just like them when I grow up. Any piece which incorperates crazy Polish people, Senegalese rap, and Indian drag queens, yet manages to make me cry, deserves mad praise.
Sarah Elzas
Posted on April 15, 2005 at 05:02 PM | Permalink
Review of Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in the Global City
A colorfully personal Frank McCourt takes the listener through an hour of segments from immigrant communities in New York. The best segments were those from the reporters from local papers--Hatian Times, India abroad, etc. Their knowledge of the communities they talk about, their voice-over translations of the languages and even their sometimes rough radio presentation makes their segments personal and meaningful. I learned many things from this piece, and though I am a New Yorker, the segments were presented in a way that it would be interesting for anyone, even outside the city. Overall, a well paced visit into pockets of a city that has historically been the main point of entry for many immigrant groups.