Watch A Lien (2023) The powerful Oscar-nominated short film by directors David & Sam Cutler-Kreutz. Discover the acclaimed story everyone is talking about. On the day of their green card interview, a young couple confronts a dangerous immigration process.
🛂 A Lien (2023) — Oscar‑nominated Short Film by David & Sam Cutler‑Kreutz
A taut, heart‑pounding 15‑minute drama, A Lien turns a bureaucratic appointment into a life‑altering showdown. Written, directed, and produced by filmmaking brothers David and Sam Cutler‑Kreutz, this Oscar‑nominated short blends intimate family drama with the urgency of a political thriller — all within the walls of a U.S. immigration office.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Drama / Thriller / Social Commentary
- Writers & Directors: David Cutler‑Kreutz & Sam Cutler‑Kreutz
- Producers: Tara Sheffer, Rebecca Eskreis, Sam Cutler‑Kreutz, David Cutler‑Kreutz
- Executive Producer: Adam McKay 🎬
- Cinematography: Andrea Gavazzi
- Editor: Caitlin Carr
- Music: Freya Berkhout
- Runtime: ~15 minutes
- Premiere: Flickerfest 2023 — Best of International Shorts
- Accolades: Nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards; Vimeo Staff Pick; screened at Austin Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, and more
- Language: English
- Country: United States
Watch full short:
📖 Story in Brief
Oscar and Sophia Gomez arrive at a U.S. immigration office with their young daughter, Nina, for a green card interview that could secure Oscar’s future in America.
- The Setup: Oscar is called in first, taking Nina with him, while Sophia waits in the lobby.
- The Shift: Sophia notices other undocumented immigrants being detained by ICE agents right there in the office.
- The Panic: When Oscar’s name is called over the loudspeaker, Sophia fears the worst — that he’s next.
- The Escape Attempt: She urges him via video call to leave immediately. He tries, but is intercepted by ICE, Nina still in his arms.
- The Heartbreak: Sophia rushes to prove Nina’s citizenship with her passport. Nina is returned to her mother, but Oscar is taken away.
- The Quiet Aftermath: Back home, Sophia braids Nina’s hair — a tender request from the film’s opening — as the weight of loss settles in.
A closing text reveals that ICE continues to detain immigrants inside immigration offices, even as they seek legal status.
🎨 Creative DNA
- “Documents Thriller”: The Cutler‑Kreutz brothers coined this term for the film’s unique tension — the stakes are hidden in paperwork, interviews, and the sterile setting of an office.
- Real‑time urgency: The story unfolds almost in real time, heightening the claustrophobia.
- Sound as pressure: Overlapping voices, echoing footsteps, and the hum of fluorescent lights create a sonic cage.
- Minimalist framing: Andrea Gavazzi’s camera keeps us close to the characters, making every glance and breath feel loaded.
- Emotional economy: Dialogue is sparse; the actors’ faces carry the weight.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Immediate stakes — no warm‑up, you’re in the tension from the first scene.
- 🏆 Awards pedigree — critical acclaim and Oscar nomination.
- 💔 Emotional punch — the ending lingers long after the credits.
- 🎥 Craft precision — cinematography, editing, and sound design work in perfect sync.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime — leaves you wanting more backstory.
- 🌀 Relentless tension — little breathing room for lighter moments.
🌟 Themes & Resonance
- Family vs. System — the human cost of immigration bureaucracy.
- Love under pressure — the quiet resilience of a couple facing separation.
- Invisibility — how ordinary people can vanish into the machinery of policy.
👥 Who Will Connect With It
- Social justice advocates — for its unflinching look at immigration realities.
- Thriller fans — for its masterclass in tension without car chases or gunfights.
- Aspiring filmmakers — as a study in how to make a small space feel like a battlefield.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
At its core, A Lien 2023 short film isn’t just about immigration — it’s about the fragility of safety when your future depends on a system that doesn’t see you as fully human. It’s about the quiet heroism of parents who will risk everything to keep their family together. And it’s about how, even in the most harrowing moments, life insists on small acts of care — like braiding your child’s hair.
🔍 Explore More
- IMDb page for A Lien — cast, crew, and festival history
- Official A Lien website — synopsis, trailer, and press kit
- Wikipedia entry for A Lien — full plot and production details