The Naturalized

Overview

Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff, and Isabel Allende.

Cast

Isabel Allende

Self

Charo

Self

Alan Cumming

Self

Bai Ling

Self

Paulina Porizkova

Self

David Rakoff

Self

Fareed Zakaria

Self