After being apprehended at the US border and separated from his father for six months, 12-year-old Geovanny returns home to Guatemala. But he’s not the same. Formerly a star student, Geovanny drops out of school. Meanwhile his father finds himself in massive debt from the journey to the US and fears he may lose his land—the source of his livelihood—and maybe even his life. But an unexpected call from the U.S. holds the promise to change everything. Filmed over six years, The Return is an intimate portrait of boyhood interrupted, an exploration of the bonds of family across borders, and a celebration of the resilience of a father and son who dream of returning home.
Directed and Produced by Jeremy S. Levine | Original Music by Bruno Cortina | Cinematography by Nicolas Abaunza, César Martínez Barba, Jeremy S. Levine | Edited by Jeremy S. Levine, César Martínez Barba | Produced for Al Jazeera by Andrew Phillips | Executive Produced for Al Jazeera by Fiona Lawson-Baker | Production Executive for Al Jazeera Maria-Alexandra Costea | Line Produced by Trudy Mercadal | Assistant Produced by Carson J. Stiles, Kely Maloney | Additional Sound Recording by Bradley Rayford | Additional Production Support by Jorge De La Rosa | Driver Isabel Córdova | Sound Design and Mix by Eric Masunaga, Modulus Studio | Color Grade by Marika Litz | Visual Effects by Mike Wechsler | Color Admin Elizabeth Barnett | Quality Assurance by Shannon Carpino | Assistant Editors Carson J. Stiles, Kely Maloney, Pete Sethanant, Harrison J. Cleversey | Translation by Jeanette Nisly | Additional Translation by Marina Fernandez Ferri, David Rivera, Manuela Ical Caal, Maria Teresa Ac Macz, Alida Yath