Documentary backdrop image for The Hearing (2023)

202393 minPGdocumentary

4.0/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

Asylum Law Refugee Crisis

Deep Dive

The Hearing

202393 minPGdocumentary

4.0/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

Deep Dive

The Nkunga Mbala family crosses 11 countries irregularly while seeking asylum in Canada after fleeing political repression in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“A family's struggle in seeking asylum to remain in Canada”

Asylum Law Refugee Crisis

Genres

Politics

Directors

Émilie B. Guérette,

Peggy Nkunga Ndona

Watch later

Synopsis

The Nkunga Mbala family crosses 11 countries irregularly while seeking asylum in Canada after fleeing political repression in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

People

View all →

Émilie B. Guérettedirector

Peggy Nkunga Ndonadirector

Émilie B. Guérettewriter

Peggy Nkunga Ndonacast

Simon Mbala Kapelacast

Synopsis

Peggy and Simon Nkunga Mbala, along with their three children, wait in Montreal for a hearing with the Immigration and Refugee Board. They fled political repression in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, crossing 11 countries to reach Canada. As they seek asylum, the family faces the threat of deportation and the challenges of starting anew in a foreign land. Their story reflects the struggles many asylum seekers encounter in Canada.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet the Nkunga Mbala family seeking asylum in Canada.
Follow their critical hearing before the Immigration Board.
Find out about their experiences fleeing the Congo.

Did You Know

The Nkunga Mbala family crossed 11 countries to reach Canada.
The film's critical hearing takes place in Montreal.
The documentary has a runtime of 93 minutes.
The film was directed by Ginger Le Pêcheur.

Perfect For

Asylum seeker storiesImmigration policy discussionsRefugee experiences

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

What country did the Nkunga Mbala family flee from?

The Nkunga Mbala family fled political repression in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

How many countries did the Nkunga Mbala family cross to reach Canada?

The Nkunga Mbala family crossed 11 countries irregularly to seek asylum in Canada.

What is the main legal process the Nkunga Mbala family is awaiting in Canada?

They are awaiting a critical hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board in Montreal to determine their refugee status.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

1h29m

God Grew Tired of Us

2006•1h29m•★7.3TMDB

3,600 Lost Boys of Sudan, including John Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach, and Panther Bior, resettled in the United States after years of fleeing war and violence.

God Grew Tired of Us

2006

1h18m

Asylum

2023•1h18m

About 25,000 refugee claimants arrive in Canada each year, seeking asylum from dangerous situations in their home countries.

Asylum

2023

13m

One Family's Journey For Asylum

2020•13m

Five or six people are often transported at a time across the Rio Grande in small rafts as they seek asylum in the United States.

One Family's Journey For Asylum

2020

1h32m

Meet The Lawyers On The Frontline Of America’s Asylum Crisis

2025•1h32m

Four immigration attorneys navigate the complexities of the U.S. asylum system while assisting desperate migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil.

Meet The Lawyers On The Frontline Of America’s Asylum Crisis

2025

1h4m

Paper Children: Fear and Hope in America's Asylum System

2020•1h4m

121 individuals have been picked up in raids, as families face the challenges of seeking asylum in the United States amid a complex immigration system.

Paper Children: Fear and Hope in America's Asylum System

2020

12m

Hong Kong Protestors Seeking Asylum In the West

2021•12m

More than 10,000 residents of Hong Kong were arrested after Beijing enacted a national security law that criminalizes subversion and foreign collusion.

Hong Kong Protestors Seeking Asylum In the West

2021

39m

The Refugees of the Cameroonian Civil War

2022•39m

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes due to violence in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

The Refugees of the Cameroonian Civil War

2022

47m

6 Brits Sent To Live Like Refugees And Return To The UK

2025•47m

Six Brits, including Dave, Bushra, and Chloe, experience life as refugees in Syria and Somalia, confronting the harsh realities of conflict and displacement.

6 Brits Sent To Live Like Refugees And Return To The UK

2025

1h17m

Global Gay: The Next Frontier In Human Rights

2018•1h17m

Homosexuality is illegal in nearly half of the world, with seven UN member states imposing the death penalty for it.

Global Gay: The Next Frontier In Human Rights

2018

Risking Their Lives To Cross US Border: The Undocumented Migrants

2021•1h

The Undocumented reveals the dangers faced by migrants crossing the Arizona desert for America.

Risking Their Lives To Cross US Border: The Undocumented Migrants

2021

26m

Kenya's Imprisoned Women Fighting For Freedom Together

2014•26m

Almost 2,000 inmates, including convicted terrorists and murderers, reside in Kenya's maximum security Committee prison, where a unique program trains prisoners as legal counsel.

Kenya's Imprisoned Women Fighting For Freedom Together

2014

Explore The Hearing

Cast & Crew Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

1h29m

God Grew Tired of Us

2006•1h29m•★7.3TMDB

3,600 Lost Boys of Sudan, including John Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach, and Panther Bior, resettled in the United States after years of fleeing war and violence.

God Grew Tired of Us

2006

No digital watch option in your country

58m

At Home in the World

2015•58m•★7.7TMDB

Ten-year-old Magomed flees threats and torture in Chechnya, arriving in Denmark with his family as they seek asylum and a new life.

At Home in the World

2015

1h12m

Deaf Child

2018•1h12m•★6.6TMDB

A young boy born deaf faces emotional and social challenges in a society that often marginalizes the deaf community.

Deaf Child

2018

1h8m

My Two Voices

2022•1h8m•★6.0TMDB

Three Latin American women share their experiences of immigrating to Canada, confronting violence and the search for belonging in a new country.

My Two Voices

2022

1h28m

Exclusion: Beyond the Silence

2025•1h28m•★7.0TMDB

Two granddaughters investigate the legacy of their grandmothers, who fought for the reunification of Chinese Canadian families amid discriminatory immigration policies.

Exclusion: Beyond the Silence

2025

1h25m

Mr. Gay Syria

2018•1h25m•★4.8TMDB

Mahmoud, an LGBT Syrian refugee in Berlin, organizes a beauty pageant to raise awareness about the dangers faced by LGBT individuals in Syria.

Mr. Gay Syria

2018

1h30m

De leugen

2010•1h30m•★7.5TMDB

Ayaan Hirsi Ali's political drama led to the fall of the Dutch cabinet, intertwining her story with that of a young asylum seeker named Sadaf.

De leugen

2010

1h35m

American Gangster Presents: Big Fifty - The Delhronda Hood Story

2021•1h35m•★5.8TMDB

Delrhonda 'Big Fifty' Hood builds a drug empire in Detroit during the late 1990s, becoming one of the city's wealthiest women.

American Gangster Presents: Big Fifty - The Delhronda Hood Story

2021

Browse more like this

1h32m

Meet The Lawyers On The Frontline Of America’s Asylum Crisis

2025•1h32m

Four immigration attorneys navigate the complexities of the U.S. asylum system while assisting desperate migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil.

Meet The Lawyers On The Frontline Of America’s Asylum Crisis

2025

No digital watch option in your country

47m

6 Brits Sent To Live Like Refugees And Return To The UK

2025•47m

Six Brits, including Dave, Bushra, and Chloe, experience life as refugees in Syria and Somalia, confronting the harsh realities of conflict and displacement.

6 Brits Sent To Live Like Refugees And Return To The UK

2025

No digital watch option in your country

1h22m

Wanakam

2005•1h22m•★8.0TMDB

Many Tamil refugees in Switzerland struggle for temporary residence permits, facing ongoing challenges in securing work, education, and travel authorization.

Wanakam

2005