In a small midwestern town, Storm Lake, Iowa, immigrant workers start their journey to the American dream from the local Tyson meatpacking plant. But after their shift is over, they dream of something better than the kill floor.

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 Ehler, a 15-year-old Karen refugee girl caught between honoring her family’s traditions and forging her own identity. We follow her from high school through her acceptance to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the bittersweet journey of growing up between two worlds. 

Anna, a South Sudanese single mother who left nursing school to work the plant floor, sending money home while her own dreams quietly fade. She carries the weight of her entire extended family on her shoulders — and refuses to let it break her. 

Sam, a Laotian elder who tends his garden and finds peace after decades of grueling labor — only to lose his mother to COVID, and then his job at Tyson. Through it all, he insists: “I worked for this country. Now I get to rest. I won.” 

Jephthah, a Karen refugee and devoted father studying for his GED who slowly comes to terms with the gap between the America he imagined and the one he lives in — and finds his own quiet version of the dream. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic strikes, the Tyson plant reports over 500 cases. The community scatters. Families relocate. Dreams are deferred. But through it all, these four people persist — redefining what it means to be American not through paperwork or politics, but through the daily act of showing up for the people they love. 

THE AMERICANS weaves its characters’ stories together in the tradition of ensemble narratives like Traffic, Magnolia, and Tree of Life — films where separate lives intersect and speak to each other, building a larger emotional truth. The stories of Ehler, Anna, Sam, and Jephthah are interwoven so that their emotional arcs converge, conveying a larger human story about generational trauma, longing, the search for freedom, and a deeper spiritual understanding of happiness.

Stylistically, the film draws from filmmakers like Terrence Malick and Wong Kar-wai, juxtaposing naturalistic, intimate moments with poetic thoughts and dialogue. Tree of Life was a significant model for constructing a personal narrative within a universal scope — evoking a spiritual sensibility for each character’s journey. The film is shot predominantly handheld, with low-angle, close-up shots that immerse you in the characters’ worlds. Characters are shown in full landscapes against big Midwestern skies — not as victims, but as heroes of their own journeys.

The score, by Emmy-winning composer Robert Lydecker, uses trumpet as a patriotic theme — because at its heart, this is a patriotic film, a film about the love for this country. Different instruments speak to different generations and movements: strings carry the natural current of immigration, inspired by the compositions of Copland and John Adams — the feeling of frontiers, of people moving toward a better world. Piano grounds the more intimate, emotional moments. And as the storylines intercut, the instruments interplay with each other, building something larger than any single voice.

Right now, immigrant families across America are living in fear. ICE raids are tearing apart communities, hundreds of thousands of people have been deported, and the national conversation has reduced immigrants to a political talking point. But we keep talking past each other — focusing on what divides us instead of what we share. 

THE AMERICANS steps into that gap. From its very first document, America declared itself as a place where the pursuit of happiness is what unites us. This film is an exploration of what that promise looks like in reality — through the lives of refugees who took it literally and staked everything on it. It doesn’t argue policy. It sits with real families over years and lets their humanity speak for itself, offering something we desperately need right now: genuine connection with the people who grow our food, raise their children alongside ours, and dream the same dreams we all do. 

After six years of filming, THE AMERICANS is in post-production. The Center of Asian American Media has supported us through the years and has licensed the film for public broadcasting. Your support will fund the final stages that bring this film to life and to audiences everywhere. THE AMERICANS is fiscally sponsored by the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — all donations are tax-deductible. 

Our $30,655 Goal — Minimum Finishing Budget

All amounts below include IDA’s 7% fiscal sponsor administrative fee. 

Archival Footage & Stills — $10,700: Licensing meatpacking plant footage, historical material, and production stills needed to tell the full story 

Professional Services (Production Legal & Taxes) — $8,881: Legal review, clearance opinions, distribution counsel, and tax obligations on production payments 

Insurance (E&O + General Liability) — $7,062: Errors & omissions insurance and liability coverage required for festival submissions, distribution, and production 

Music/Composer — $3,210: Original score for the film by Emmy-winning composer Bob Lydecker 

Clearance Cost — $802: Music and media clearances required before the film can be publicly screened or distributed 

Extended Goal — $48,845 (+$18,190) 

Composer (Additional Pay + Live Musicians) — $18,190: Fair compensation for our composer and recording the score with live musicians to elevate the film 

Further Goal — $70,245 (+$21,400)

Color Correction — $10,700: Professional colorist to unify six years of footage into one cohesive look 

Sound Mix — $10,700: Professional sound mix to balance dialogue, score, and ambient audio for the final film 

We are so close to the finish line — and we need your help to cross it. 

Iowa PBS has committed to providing sound mix and color correction, but additional funds would allow us to bring on dedicated post-production specialists for a theatrical-quality finish. 

We are so close to the finish line — and we need your help to cross it. 

THE AMERICANS is proud to be part of the Seed&Spark AAPI Renaissance Rally 2026, presented by Gold House and Madison Wells. This rally champions the next evolution of AAPI storytelling — and our film, directed by Korean American filmmaker Hyunsoo Moon, centers the multidimensional, unexpected Asian and Pacific Islander lives that this movement celebrates. 

Here’s why your support during the rally matters even more: to qualify as a finalist, we need to raise a minimum of $2,500 and reach 350 followers on Seed&Spark. If we make the finals and win, we’re eligible for up to $12,500 in matching funds, mentorship from Gold House, and the opportunity to pitch at the Toronto International Film Festival through Gold Pitch. Every pledge and every follow during this 30-day campaign (March 30 – April 29) brings us closer to that. 

By supporting our campaign, you’re not just funding a film — you’re helping us compete for resources that could double the impact of your contribution and bring this story to the biggest stages in the world.