Once a month the members of Águilas de Desierto, or the Eagles of the Desert, battle the scorching Arizona heat to search for migrants who braved the journey across the border but are now missing. Made up of mostly Latino volunteers, the Águilas set out to either rescue the lost or recover their remains to bring peace to the families that have reached out to them for help in finding their loved ones. This short yet heartbreaking documentary is bookmarked by audio recordings of desperate family members pleading for help over gorgeous footage of the desert, dovetailing the two opposing themes of the film—the hope and fear that come with crossing the border for a better life.  BD

Filmmaker Q&A available