My heart feels heavy. The last few weeks have been particularly tense and heart-wrenching for Minnesota residents.

If you’re not familiar with the dire situation in my adopted state, we have been swarmed by 3,000+ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents since late last Fall, even though the number of immigrants in this blue state is only 8.5% of its total population, below the U.S. average of 14%. 

Those who’ve been to FlixChatter site or know me personally are likely aware that I’m not one to engage in online political discussions; I refrain from commenting on politicians or politics, whether in a positive or negative light, on social media. I strive to analyze things first before reacting, as I believe there are often two sides to every issue and that there are always bad apples on both ends of the political spectrum.

However, what’s occurring with Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota has gone beyond a typical immigration crackdown; it has become genuinely sinister. ICE was established in 2002 in response to the terror of 9/11, with the intention of focusing on criminals rather than families. I’m a naturalized US citizen who has never been undocumented for even a millisecond; yet my husband and I have been staying in a lot lately for fear of encountering the ubiquitous ICE agents, and I now carry my passport card when I go out.

I think any sensible person, regardless of political alliance, likely supports the prosecution and deportation of criminals who exploit the country’s generosity and harm the American people. But what ICE has been doing is targeting people based on skin color and accents with brutal and dehumanizing methods. Those intimidation tactics should never have been allowed to happen in what’s supposed to be ‘the land of the free’ of America, and must be put to an end. Ironically, the department tasked with keeping America safe has done exactly the opposite.

January has been particularly deadly as two MN residents have been fatally shot in just a span of three weeks. Renée Good, a mother of three, was killed on January 7th, and this past Saturday morning, Veterans Affairs ICU nurse Alex Pettri was executed in broad daylight by ICE agents while helping out an immigrant woman. Watching the videos circulating that captured Mr. Pettri’s last moments will haunt me for a long time, and the lies that DHS leaders told the media made my blood run cold. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he shouldn’t have to die for protecting a fellow human being, so I decided to pay tribute to the 37-year-old young man who was taken away so brutally. This isn’t a political statement, as empathy goes beyond race, color, and political affiliation.

So here are 7 clips/trailers of films that feature nurses as well as caregivers from all over the globe. Here’s to you, Alex Pettri, and those who dedicate their lives to caring for the sick and most vulnerable amongst us.

When I envision a benevolent nurse portrayed in films, the first person that comes to mind is Juliette Binoche‘s Nurse Hana in The English Patient. She tends to a dying patient with an English accent, László Almásy (Ralph Fiennes), who is severely burned and suffers from amnesia. In this poignant scene, Hana reads the last journal entries of Katharine to Almásy as he approaches death.

I just saw Goodbye June around Christmas, and I was so touched by Fisayo Akinade‘s performance as the benevolent and gentle Nurse Angel, who lives up to his name.

The Nigerian nurse cared for Helen Mirren‘s character and became an essential member of her family when she passed.

Omar Sy’s character Driss in The Intouchables isn’t your typical nurse; he’s a vicacious guy from the Parisian projects who becomes a live-in caregiver for Philippe (François Cluzet), a wealthy quadriplegic. Their deep bond helps them overcome their individual struggles and differences. I really adore the joie de vivre vibe of this French dramedy!

One of my favorite Ana De Armas roles is Marta Cabrera in Knives Out. She’s the registered nurse and main companion to wealthy patriarch Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), and there’s this really intense scene where she finds out that Harlan’s medication has been swapped to poison him.

I’m including this one from Meet the Parents, as we all still need to laugh even in the darkest times. Ben Stiller‘s Gaylord Fokker is goofy, but he’s also skilled, warm, and caring.

I reviewed CABRINI last year. Mother Cabrini was not a formally trained nurse, but an Italian-born nun and educator who became a pioneer in healthcare, establishing hospitals, orphanages, and schools. She is the patron saint of hospital administrators and immigrants, and since Alex Pettri died protecting an immigrant, I think it’s fitting to include this film on the list.

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I’d like to end this post with Pettri’s words that he read during his final salute to a veteran who died at the VA hospital recently… the words feel more profound in light of how he died.

“Today we have to remember that freedom is not free… We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it. May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom.”

God rest his soul, and may peace + calm be restored in my state promptly.

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Twin Cities Strong art courtesy of Ben Branum, posted on Facebook