Documentary backdrop image for They Are We (2014)

Documentary backdrop image for They Are We (2014)

201477 minPGdocumentary

10.0/ 10(1 rating)• TMDB

They Are We

201477 minPGdocumentary

10.0/ 10(1 rating)• TMDB

Nearly 200 years after their ancestors arrived on a slave ship, an Afro-Cuban group preserves the songs and dances of their heritage.

Genres

Director

Emma Christopher

Synopsis

Nearly 200 years after their ancestors arrived on a slave ship, an Afro-Cuban group preserves the songs and dances of their heritage.

People

Emma Christopherdirector

Emma Christopherwriter

Alfredo Duquesnecast

Elvira Fumerocast

Humberto Casanovacast

Synopsis

In a village in Cuba, descendants of Africans who were enslaved nearly 200 years ago celebrate their cultural heritage through music and dance. They Are We follows this Afro-Cuban group as they reconnect with the traditions brought by their ancestors on a slave ship. The film documents their efforts to reunite with long-lost family members and preserve their identity. Director Emma Christopher captures the vibrant expressions of joy and kinship that define their community.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun (1989)

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun

1989•52m•★7.3TMDB

Young men of the Wodaabe tribe engage in beauty pageants marked by extravagant makeup and intricate posturing to attract potential mates.

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun

The Tumba Francesa (2021)

The Tumba Francesa

UNESCO has proclaimed Tumba Francesa an intangible cultural heritage, reflecting its significance in Cuban history and culture.

The Tumba Francesa

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage (2025)

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage

In the Amazon, indigenous tribes in Manaus preserve their sacred traditions through song, dance, and rituals while highlighting the importance of ecotourism and conservation.

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage

Who Really Were Our Ancestors? (2024)

Who Really Were Our Ancestors?

Genetic research and DNA analysis reveal how nations construct narratives about their historical connections to ancient peoples and ancestral lineages.

Who Really Were Our Ancestors?

Witchcraft Among The Azande (2020)

Witchcraft Among The Azande

One of the largest tribes in Africa, the Azande historically created an empire that spanned from the Congo rainforests to Southern Sudan.

Witchcraft Among The Azande

Native Soul (2025)

Native Soul

In the Southwest, various Indigenous bands and tribes perform "Bird," social songs that recount their origins and ancient travels, featuring insights from Desmond Saubel.

We Are Home | Documentary | Full Movie (2025)

We Are Home | Documentary | Full Movie

Over 8.2 million Ukrainians have left the country since the war began, while nearly 8 million have returned, many facing the loss of their homes.

We Are Home | Documentary | Full Movie

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil (2025)

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil

In Colombia, Honduras, Panama, and Brazil, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities like the Garifunas, Kuna, Wayuu, and Jangadeiros shape their identities through their deep connections to the ocean.

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil

Dancing Tehran: Iran's Women Make A Stand (2019)

Dancing Tehran: Iran's Women Make A Stand

A 17-year-old girl is arrested in Iran for dancing and forced to confess on state television, sparking a viral protest for women's rights.

Dancing Tehran: Iran's Women Make A Stand

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban (2021)

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban

Young campers at Any Town camp in Arizona confront race and privilege through guided discussions.

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban

Dance Freestyle (2025)

Dance Freestyle

This instructional dance video teaches how to dance like a pop star with Hollywood moves.

Dance Freestyle

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris (2024)

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris

Street performers in Paris, including magician Oussama Chazi, dancer Femi, and singer Anne Sophie Guerrier Breakeurs, showcase their diverse talents in vibrant public spaces.

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris

Explore They Are We

Trailer Cast & Crew Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun (1989)

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun

1989•52m•★7.3TMDB

Young men of the Wodaabe tribe engage in beauty pageants marked by extravagant makeup and intricate posturing to attract potential mates.

Wodaabe: Herdsmen of the Sun

No digital watch option in your country

We Are Cinema (2021)

We Are Cinema

2021•1h11m•★9.5TMDB

Martin Scorsese and Ava DuVernay discuss how streaming services like Netflix are changing audience engagement with cinema.

I Am Because We Are (2008)

I Am Because We Are

2008•1h26m•★8.8TMDB

An estimated 500,000 children in Malawi have lost parents to HIV and AIDS, many of whom live on the streets.

I Am Because We Are

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song (1985)

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

1985•52m•★8.3TMDB

Forty-five prominent artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner, recorded a charity single in 1985 to address the Ethiopian famine.

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

The Song Keepers (2017)

The Song Keepers

2017•1h24m•★6.3TMDB

Indigenous women from Central Australia work to preserve ancient sacred songs that are vital to their culture and connect to Germany's musical history.

The Song Keepers

The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' (2002)

The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'

2002•1h4m•★9.0TMDB

Spike Lee directs a 2002 documentary featuring artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Queen Latifah, exploring the creation and impact of the song "We Are Family."

The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'

Shashamane (2016)

Shashamane

2016•1h20m•★10.0TMDB

In Shashamane, Ethiopia, descendants of African heritage share personal stories of reclaiming their identity after enduring historical oppression.

Dolphins in the Deep Blue Ocean (2009)

Dolphins in the Deep Blue Ocean

2009•1h•★5.8TMDB

Eilat's marine reserve, the largest in the world, is home to dolphins that display agility and curiosity while interacting with humans.

Dolphins in the Deep Blue Ocean

The Dance Goodbye (2015)

The Dance Goodbye

2015•56m•★6.0TMDB

Merrill Ashley, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, navigates her transition from performer to teacher while sharing George Balanchine's techniques globally.

The Dance Goodbye

Browse more like this

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage (2025)

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage

In the Amazon, indigenous tribes in Manaus preserve their sacred traditions through song, dance, and rituals while highlighting the importance of ecotourism and conservation.

Preservation of Amazonian Indigenous Heritage

No digital watch option in your country

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil (2025)

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil

In Colombia, Honduras, Panama, and Brazil, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities like the Garifunas, Kuna, Wayuu, and Jangadeiros shape their identities through their deep connections to the ocean.

People of the Sea: Lives Shaped by the Ocean | Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Brazil

No digital watch option in your country

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban (2021)

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban

Young campers at Any Town camp in Arizona confront race and privilege through guided discussions.

The Anti-Racist Camp Republicans Can't Ban

No digital watch option in your country

Here We Come (2006)

Here We Come

2006•1h30m•★9.0TMDB

Nico Raschick's 2006 film features various artists performing live, capturing the energy and dedication of musicians preparing for their shows.

We are not legends (2019)

We are not legends

2019•52m•★8.0TMDB

Three Atikamekw teenagers take music lessons with non-Indigenous teachers while balancing their cultural heritage and aspirations on a Quebec reserve.

We are not legends

Revolution from Afar (2020)

Revolution from Afar

2020•1h7m•★10.0TMDB

Sudanese-American poets and musicians express their ties to Sudan and the ongoing unrest through music and conversation, reflecting on their cultural identity.

Revolution from Afar

The Way Back (2024)

The Way Back

2024•1h40m•★7.4TMDB

A family relocates from the United States to Ghana as part of the Year of Return initiative, seeking to reconnect with their ancestral roots.

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →