The Dells
Follow a group of international students as they experience a summer working at the “Waterpark Capital of the World.”
Film/Theater
Every summer, international students come from all over the globe to work in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (Nellie Kluz, 2024) . Sponsored by temporary J-1 visas, they support the seasonal tourism industry by taking on the low-wage jobs of housekeepers, retail staff, servers, and lifeguards. The Dells follows a cohort of “J-1s” as they experience the ups and downs of life abroad in a small Midwestern town. The film captures the contradiction of the American Dream, where hopeful fantasies of life in the US are grounded by the daily trials of being underpaid, overworked, and far from home. In English, Turkish, and Spanish with English subtitles. (72 mins., DCP)
Supported by Film/Video Studio residencies in 2023 and 2024.
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