The Fence (2011) (DVD)

Acclaimed filmmaker Rory Kennedy examines the aim and effectiveness of the controversial Southern U.S. Border Barrier, a 700-mile fence erected along the more than 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. Kennedy follows her title subject through private ranches, protected wilderness, bustling border towns and scrub desert, offering a revealing and surprising look at the story behind its construction and its ultimate impact. This 35-minute documentary takes a humorous look at the absurd ideological contradictions and misinformation that have dogged the fence from its inception. Featuring candid interviews with border patrol guards, ranchers, environmentalists and voices from both sides of the immigration controversy, the film uses humor to highlight the sometimes stark contrast between fact and political opinion. Ultimately, The Fence is a far-reaching and moving analysis of the unanticipated financial, human and environmental costs that such a project brings, wherever it stands.

• documentary
• drama