Chantal Akerman is a revolutionary Belgian film director and screenwriter known for exploring ordinary everyday life in her films. One of her most unique stylistic approaches to film is her signature use of slow camera movements. Her films often explore time, space and spectatorship, which are often themes associated with essay films.

De l’autre coté is an emotional essay film on border politics that explores migration, division and labor. The filmmaker records domestic interviews of Mexicans who have tried to cross the border to the United States for a better future and economic stability. She also interviews US locals who fear the trespassing of Mexicans and oppose their arrival to their side of the border. This reveals the tension between those two different groups, their perspectives and opinions. Through the stories of multiple individuals different objectivities are expressed in relation to the US-Mexico migration crisis.

Akerman rarely intervenes in the flow of the interviews as she lets the interviewees speak for themselves which often uncovers essayistic contrasts between the topics of death versus hope for the future, as well as fear versus interdependence. The beauty of still, silent shots allow us to patiently observe the details and carefully listen to those who speak.