One of the best ways to confront stereotypes and prejudice is through education about different people, different countries and different cultures.  When ordinary people from very different backgrounds come together to learn about what makes them different, they can start to develop a truer understanding of the wider world. The documentary, “Crossing Borders,” directed by Arnd Wächter, records students from the United States and Morocco attempting to accomplish this goal.

These students travel together through Morocco and in the process, they confront some of their preconceived notions of their respective cultures. In each instance, the students must carefully balance what they had learned previously about “The West” and the “Islamic World” through their schools, the Media, and their wider societies with their new experiences of interacting with a member of the other culture.  In many cases, they find their preconceived notions firmly rooted in cultural misunderstanding.

The students’ intercultural experiences in Morocco powerfully display how people can change their understanding of other cultures by spending time with members of the other culture and gaining a more informed perspective of cultural differences.  When exploring what makes another culture different, it is important to understand how people are similar, despite great differences in geography and way of life. This intercultural experience changes the way the students in “Crossing Borders” view each other and the global community.

View the preview of “Crossing Borders” here