Three Trembling Cities
11 Episodes
This award-winning webseries delves into the inner lives of NYC immigrants struggling with work, friends, romance, dreams and family expectations. Overshadowing their efforts is their often uncertain status – culturally, emotionally, legally. Three Trembling Cities presents a deeper, richer story about the immigrant experience.
The fictional storyline follows two ‘circles’ of characters. Urmi, Ilona, Azin, and Behrouz are part of the first circle. They’re struggling with issues of identity. Where do they belong? What is their “home” country? Do they follow their family’s dreams or their own?
Babacar, Dawit, Abdul, Madha, and Sam are part of the second circle. They’re struggling for survival. How do they make it here, with expensive rents, low-paying, difficult jobs, and very little security to fall back on?
Each episode concludes with interviews with immigrants who’ve gone through similar issues.
Accolades for "Three Trembling Cities":
Awards:
Baltimore New Media Webfest: Best Multicultural Series
Brooklyn Webfest: Made In New York Award
Gullah International Film Festival: Winner, Best Webseries
Minnesota Webfest: Winner, Best Drama
Philly TV Fest: Best Drama
Toronto Webfest: Best Diverse Representation
UK Webfest: Best Drama
Special Screenings (selected):
NY Public Library, 2017 & 2018: Included in the Immigrant Heritage Week program
New York State Office For New Americans/Millbrook Public Library: Screening and discussion
Modern Language Association 2022: "Everyone Is A Citizen of Three Countries" (academic talk & discussion)
ABC Latino (upstate NY magazine and website): Screening and discussion
Irondale Theater: Screening and discussion, part of "This Is Not Normal"
Montclair Public Library: Screening and discussion, including on the history of immigration law in the US
Atelier Rosal (gallery in Rahway, NJ): part of a month-long exhibit of video and fine art
Festivals (selected):
Bronx World Film Festival
Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (India)
Chicago Amarcord Arthouse Television Awards (Chicago)
Downtown LA Fest (LA)
Garden State Film Festival (NJ)
Grove Festival (NJ)
HollyWeb (LA)
IndieBOOM! (online)
Katra Film Series Semi-Finalist
Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema
KWC FilmFest (Kentucky)
Lonely Seal Film (Boston)
New York International Immigration Festival
NJ Webfest
Rome Seriesfest (Italy)
Series Bilbaoland (Spain)
Stareable Fest (NY)
Universe Multicultural Film Festival (LA)
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05:22Episode 1Three Trembling Cities (S1, E1)
Episode 1
Urmi (Nandita Chandra) and Ilona (Tjasa Ferme), best friends and fellow grad students, get ready for one last night out together before Ilona leaves for Dubai to teach.
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06:57Episode 2Three Trembling Cities (S1, E2)
Episode 2
While Urmi and Ilona try to enjoy their last night out together and end up arguing instead, Behrouz (Arash Mokhtar) and Azin (Sherz Aletaha) sit across from them at the restaurant, debating the wisdom of his returning to Iran to perform in a play.
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10:26Episode 3Three Trembling Cities (S1, E3)
Episode 3
Ilona and Urmi try to end things on a good note, and bump into Azin and Behrouz on the sidewalk outside the restaurant.
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05:22Episode 4Three Trembling Cities (S1, E4)
Episode 4
Urmi, Ilona, Behrouz and Azin drink at a bar together. It's a heady conversation, about politics, art, immigration, and the American dream, among other things.
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07:41Episode 5Three Trembling Cities (S1, E5)
Episode 5
Ilona and Urmi say goodnight to Behrouz and Azin. Ilona and Urmi have a heavy discussion about America and desire. Behrouz leaves for Iran.
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11:01Episode 6Three Trembling Cities (S1, E6)
Episode 6
Babacar (Yacine Djoumbaye) tries to start up a jewelry business, first going to Kai (John D. Haggerty), then Sam (Storm Gunraj), running into roadblocks all the way. Sam's cousin Madha (Pascale Piquion) finds out Sam is actually undocumented.
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10:30Episode 7Three Trembling Cities (S1, E7)
Episode 7
Babacar's roommates Dawit (Peter Goitom) and Abdul (Irungu Mutu) work at the same restaurant as he does. Dawit goes for a job interview, trying to leave the restaurant world. Babacar gets a second job so he can balance sending money back home and the jewelry-making.
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12:51Episode 8Three Trembling Cities (S1, E8)
Episode 8
Dawit's job interview doesn't go so great. Babacar produces his first jewelry prototype. He brings it to Madha and Sam but finds out Sam headed back to Guyana.
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10:48Episode 9Three Trembling Cities (S1, E9)
Episode 9
Babacar and Dawit fight over Babacar's big secret - that he's keeping from Madha and everyone else.
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13:10Episode 10Three Trembling Cities (S1, E10)
Episode 10
Babacar gets his jewelry business off the ground, but is having trouble selling. Urmi struggles with her dissertation, and meets Azin for coffee. They talk about their imploding marriages, pleasing their parents, and the nature of love.
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00:51Episode 11Three Trembling Cities - Short Trailer
Episode 11
This award-winning webseries delves into the inner lives of NYC immigrants struggling with work, friends, romance, dreams and family expectations. Overshadowing their efforts is their often uncertain status – culturally, emotionally, legally. Three Trembling Cities presents a deeper, richer story...