A very personal journey, May 25, 2011

By justzheng 

Seattle local Eliaichi Kimaro, born half-Tanzanian-half-Korean, went to Tanzania to find a deeper understanding of her paternal root. During her several years of filming, however, the focus shifted to somewhere else… and then to somewhere totally unexpected, when the issue of sexual violence and abuse came into the picture. In my conversation with her after the screening, Eli stated that she sees herself as an activist more than a filmmaker. This film is first and foremost for her own purpose (and a gift for her daughter); her process of shifting focus and, to a certain degree, the lack of resolution are reflected in the documentary as well. (There seemed to be strong interest from the audience to know what happened next after the film finished.) But like Eli said in the Q&A, the more personal and honest she went with the documentary, the more universal it became. Originally slated to be called “Worlds Apart,” “A Lot Like You” is an appropriate title for a film that’s so appropriate for today’s ever-blending world.