Buffalo Film: ‘The Act of Dreaming’ screens at North Park

By Maisie Strader

As someone who has lived in Upstate New York all my life, I’ve never had to imagine what it truly feels like to be forcefully displaced or driven out of my own country.

The new film does just that, as it fits your perspective into the shoes of three families living in Buffalo.

“The Act of Dreaming,” is a 1 hour and 27 minute-long film, produced and directed by John Maggio and Neha Shastry. 

It follows Elena and her family of three as they search for asylum after leaving Ecuador. Viewers feel the quiet struggle of Ismail, determined to support his loved ones after fleeing Syria. And you’ll find yourself holding your breath for Mu Baw and her mother, Ther Mee, as they rebuild their lives after surviving ethnic cleansing in Burma.

By the end of the film, these families no longer feel like strangers. You’ve heard their stories, felt their pain and seen their battles, and you’ve found yourself subconsciously rooting for their chance at a better life. 

The perspectives are told in three parts. The first is the perspective of the parent, the second is the perspective of the child and the third is written in by the role of the informator. 

Yet all three groups have one thing in common — they are being defeated by our government and the lack of support that immigrants receive. 

“My expectations before coming to the U.S. have changed after I actually came here,” Ismail said. “The vision is different than reality.”

In my opinion, this film is a political exercise of human rights. It unfolds as a quiet protest spoken through a documentary. 

Throughout the film, politics linger in every frame. It was created before, during and after the 2024 presidential election — when immigration wasn’t just debated, but a force that separated our country.

These scenes were reflected through every detail of the movie, such as the music that was being played, the color scheme in the scenes and the radio clips that were airing the public’s opinion. 

I had multiple different takes on the true meaning of “The Act of Dreaming.” I could see that it was made to be informative. However, it was also created to make people feel less alone, and to share resources that people may need. 

After the Trump administration suspended the U.S. refugee admissions program on Jan. 20, 2025, the audience can feel the stress and tension breaking through the lives of both the children, but also the parents.

One institution that was helpful to these families was Refugee and Immigrants Self Empowerment (RISE), located in Buffalo.

Mohamed Muse is the site director at RISE, where they help immigrants find employment and do case management.

All the employees are former refugees, giving refugees a sense of safety and hope. 

Another outlet is Lafayette International Community High School in downtown Buffalo. 

Principal John Starkey discussed the latest influx of students; whom are asylum seekers from South America. 

“They are here with basically nothing, and all they have to hold on too is hope,” he said.

Throughout the film, the filmmakers evoke emotions of innocence, ambition, identity, loss, and regret — doing so in a way that feels deeply human and easy to absorb.

Maggio and Shastry capture the practicality of everyday life and the consequences of struggling with financial hardship — the fear of having no job, no safety net and the chaos of trying to find salvation.

The documentary comes out today, and it will be featured at the Buffalo International Film Festival.

The film will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. at The North Park Theatre at 1428 Hertel Ave. in Buffalo.

There is no better inspiration than these families teaching us the struggle of forming a foundation of a new life in an unknown place, all so their kids can grow up in a world where they can be educated and live freely. 

This is what life is like for them. 

Maisie Strader is a senior Journalism major at SUNY Fredonia. The story is a product of the Arts Journalism class at SUNY Fredonia and the part of the SUNY Institute for Local News.