This Long Century Presents: Danny Lyon

Director: Danny Lyon

1974 / 74min / DCP

“For our final screening of the year, This Long Century welcomes photographer, writer, and filmmaker Danny Lyon. While most widely known for his images of the civil rights struggle, Lyon has spent a lifetime documenting both outsiders and marginalized groups. Having started making 16mm films in the early 1970s, Lyon moved to New Mexico where he befriended undocumented Mexican laborer Eddie Marquez Rivera, who would become the focus of his short film The Immigrant. This marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship and undoubtedly exposed Lyon to the struggles of undocumented immigrants. In 1977, with help from the United Farm Workers labor union, Lyon met the Garay family, who would re-enact their experience of traveling annually from Querétaro to the giant citrus groves of Arizona’s Maricopa County for Lyon’s 1978 feature El Otro Lado. While both films lay bare many hardships, they are also full of beautiful, fleeting moments, steeped in music, humor, and camaraderie. They convey a sense of optimism and humanity, which feels much needed in this moment, as federal authorities continue to escalate their attacks on immigrant communities across the US, in the most violent ways.” —Series curator Jason Evans, This Long Century

The Immigrant (1974)

El Otro Lado (1978)

Post-screening discussion with Danny Lyon and Jason Evans on Sunday, December 7th