In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, activist Salvador Reza, a founder of the Puente Movement, tracks the Sheriff department pulling over and interrogating Latinos on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. Reza and his associates use cameras to film the activity, while he also talks about SB1070 being the “287(g) [Agreement] on steroids.”

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks to reporters during a raid of a fast food restaurant checking for illegal immigrants, where he’s challenged by a journalist about the operation. Meanwhile, patrons debate whether or not illegal immigrants should be allowed to work there.

This topical documentary captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona’s headline-grabbing struggle with illegal immigration. Tracking the year after Arizona passes SB1070, its controversial “papers please” law, the film tells the stories of Arizonans on all sides of this divisive issue and depicts a state and its people testing the edges of our democratic values.

In this video extra from the Independent Lens documentary The State of Arizona, Rudy Peña, a fifth generation of Mexican descent, reflects on a surprising divide within the Latino community. He talks about his family history and how he feels ostracized by newer Mexican immigrants because he doesn’t speak Spanish and doesn’t feel the way they do.

An intimate portrait of Rocky Braat, who traveled to India as a disillusioned tourist. When he met a group of children with HIV living at an AIDS hostel, a place of unspeakable hardship, he decided to stay and devote his life to them.

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Blood Brother, Rocky Braat describes his first encounter with the unforgettable HIV-positive kids he met in India, what they called him in their native tongue, and how he found it so hard to shake them that he had to return to India to see them again.

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Blood Brother, Rocky goes to visit one of the girls in the hospital, where she’s been for a few days, plus he brings pizza to the kids, and reads a story in English with them.

Legendary documentarian Frederick Wiseman goes back to school for this wide-ranging film about the University of California at Berkeley, the oldest and most prestigious member of a ten campus public education system.

Alongside scenes and images from the Independent Lens documentary At Berkeley, filmmaker Frederick Wiseman talks about why he wanted to do a film about “the extraordinarily complicated place” that is the University of California, Berkeley, which fits well into his institutional series, as well as about the unprecedented access he was given, and why showing it on public television is so important.

How to Survive a Plague is the story of two coalitions — ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) — made up of self-made activists, many of them HIV-positive, who challenged the pharmaceutical industry, then helped it to identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time.

How to Survive a Plague is the story of two coalitions — ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) — made up of self-made activists, many of them HIV-positive, who challenged the pharmaceutical industry, then helped it to identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time.

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Master Chef Jiro Ono reflects back on his own history with sushi, dating back to post WWII, how the art of making sushi invaded his dreams, and the evolution of technique in preparing more challenging food items like shrimp and octopus.

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a renowned Japanese food critic discusses the most important attributes needed to make a sushi restaurant special, and how master chef Jiro Ono has them all.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, owner and meticulous chef of a tiny Tokyo sushi restaurant. Despite humble appearances, it’s the first of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin review, and sushi lovers around the world call months in advance for a reservation. The film is an elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection.

Join Independent Lens on a mouthwatering tour of some of the greatest sushi restaurants San Francisco has to offer. Craving more? Satiate your appetite when Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the story of one of the world's greatest sushi chefs, premieres December 23, 2013 on PBS’s Independent Lens.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, owner and meticulous chef of a tiny Tokyo sushi restaurant. Despite humble appearances, it’s the first of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin review, and sushi lovers around the world call months in advance for a reservation. The film is an elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, owner and meticulous chef of a tiny Tokyo sushi restaurant. Despite humble appearances, it’s the first of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin review, and sushi lovers around the world call months in advance for a reservation. The film is an elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection.

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, master chef Jiro Ono discusses the secrets to his success and lifetime dedication to his craft, while a renowned Japanese food critic talks about what makes Jiro’s restaurant stand apart from all the rest — especially its “minimalist, simple” sushi.

In this opening excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Playwright: From Page to Stage, these questions are posed: In a world where there are so many other options for entertainment, why do people still choose theater? Why does theater matter? And while supporting new plays is especially important, why does Broadway seem less and less interested in them?

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Playwright: From Page to Stage, we learn more about why they felt they had to switch lead actor in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo when they play moved from Los Angeles to Broadway, and what brought them to cast Robin Williams. Williams himself chimes in about being the “new kid.”