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Five Films To Celebrate June 🎥
Dear Hyphenly Readers,
When I first moved to the US, I was excited to go to the New York State Fair in Syracuse. My friends eagerly purchased 25-cent glasses of cold milk while admiring sculptures made entirely out of butter. All around me were absurd food choices I had previously only seen on television: deep-fried Oreos, pickle juice margaritas, extremely loaded potatoes. Standing in line for the famous maple donuts at the fair, I felt part of something larger: a great American tradition.
If you want to experience it yourself, the San Diego County Fair is open through July 5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Deep-fried everything included.
June also marks Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month — two celebrations close to our hearts at Hyphenly. The Tribeca Film Festival is wrapping up, and the International Booker Prize winner was just announced. There’s a lot to watch, read, and celebrate.
In this edition, I have recommendations for all of these and more. So, turn up the AC, make a big batch of popcorn, and enjoy.
OUR FAIR PICK:
SANTA SANGRE (1989)
Whenever I attend the fair now, I think back on the horror-fantasy movie Santa Sangre. Released in 1990, it captures the surrealism of old-timey circuses and fairs in Mexico.
Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, it follows Fenix, a young man who grew up in a traveling circus and is now confined to a psychiatric hospital, haunted by the memory of his parents' violent end. If you've never seen it, June is the perfect time to start.
OUR PRIDE PICK:
THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1996)
Last year, I had recommended six books to read for Pride 🌈 and recapped the history of the Stonewall Protests. This year, I come with one film recommendation that may have flown under your radar.
The Watermelon Woman is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, and edited by Cheryl Dunye. The first feature film directed by a Black lesbian, it features a young Black lesbian working a video store day job while making a film about Fae Richards, a Black actress from the 1930s known for playing stereotypical "mammy" roles that were often assigned to Black actresses during that period. I think about this film today, especially because most of its budget came from the National Endowment for the Arts fund: a grant currently under threat.
OUR IMMIGRANT HERITAGE PICK:
SAINT JUDY (2018)
Last year, for Immigrant Heritage Month, I challenged our readers with two quizzes: one on immigrants from across the world and the other on the US Citizenship Test. Revisit these quizzes for a bit of general knowledge, and check out Saint Judy.
This 2019 biographical film follows attorney Judy Wood leads a legal battle that changes the law for immigrants who seek asylum in the United States. If you’re looking to learn more about what goes on in the legal proceedings of those looking for asylum, people forced into ICE detention centers, and the impact of law on mental health, this is the movie for you.
OUR INTERNATIONAL PICK:
DILLI DARK (2025)
If you want to watch a movie about immigrants outside of the US, I recommend Dilli Dark, a bilingual Hindi-English film set in New Delhi. A Nigerian student wants to get his MBA and settle in India, but his part-time job turns into a dubious double life in a city notoriously difficult for outsiders.
OUR TRIBECA PICK:
TAKE ME HOME (2026)
In this intimate drama, Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, cares for her aging parents in a fragile balance of meeting one another’s needs. When a Florida heat wave shatters their family and Anna’s routine, her future is uncertain until she creates a world where she can thrive.
Take Me Home is screening this summer at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
OUR BOOK PICK:
TAIWAN TRAVELOGUE
Prefer a book this summer? The 2026 International Booker Prize recently went to Taiwan Travelogue.
Written by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translated by Lin King, it was originally written in Taiwanese Mandarin and follows a bittersweet love story between two women, woven through with language, history, and power.
How many of these have you seen — and how many are new to you?
Whether you're a horror devotee, a romance fan, or somewhere in between, there's something on this list for everyone. Let us know which one you’re watching first, and follow our Letterboxd for recommendations all year long!
Until next time,
Team Hyphenly
This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
Visit us at www.immigrantlypod.com