Independent Lens shifts from its usual globe-trotting to a more personal journey in its upcoming episode, “The In Between.” The documentary follows a filmmaker’s return to the U.S.-Mexico border, the landscape of her youth, now tinged with the shadow of loss. Following her brother’s death, she seeks solace and understanding in the familiar yet altered terrain. This isn’t just a story of grief; it’s an exploration of place, memory, and the enduring ties that bind us to our origins.
While Independent Lens has covered border issues before, “The In Between” seems less concerned with political polemics than with the intimate textures of life in this often-misunderstood region. The filmmaker’s personal connection to the border provides a unique lens through which to examine the complexities of identity and belonging. This suggests a more contemplative, even poetic approach, distinct from the hard-hitting exposés sometimes featured on the series. It will be interesting to see if the film tackles the thorny realities of the border alongside its more personal narrative.
Will “The In Between” manage to bridge the personal and the political, or will it get lost in the metaphorical desert?
Independent Lens airs Mondays at 10:00 PM on PBS.
