Dozens of people milled about in Philadelphia’s Love Park as a series of short film portraits played on the facade of the park’s visitor center on a recent Friday evening. The ambient sounds of the city served as a soundtrack for the silent films. Several videos played simultaneously on different sections of the 360-degree projection wrapped around the building’s exterior. Titled the Philadelphians, the 10 portraits recognize the contributions of the city’s immigrant communities.
One film profiled an Afghan immigrant named Rezwan Natiq and followed him as he shopped at a halal Middle Eastern food market. His words were displayed on the screen: “I had a lot of mixed feelings but I had no other option than to leave Afghanistan. I was thinking about my parents who stayed behind, and on the other hand, I was happy that my kids would get to live the life they deserve. At least they will be safe here.” He then shared that he felt compelled to give back to the local immigrant community after receiving the opportunity for a new life in the US.
