SYNOPSIS

THE TEST is a character-based documentary short that follows the story of Eric Frimpong, a Ghanaian immigrant who works as a maintenance worker at a large retirement community. Eric dreams of bringing his wife and three children to the US, as he hasn’t seen them in eight years. The final obstacle to their long-awaited reunion is passing the US citizenship test. A senior resident couple, Jill and Carl, journey alongside Eric to tutor him to pass the 100-question test that will define his future.

A microcosm of the Great American Experiment, many employees at Goodwin House represent a host of nations — Ghana, Vietnam, Nigeria, and more — who have left family and community in their native countries to pursue a life of political freedom in the US. The residents — who serve as tutors are everyday heroes — are often former teachers, military members, and community volunteers. The destinies of Eric, Jill, and Carl unfold along a shared journey as the residents discover new purpose in their twilight years while empowering a future citizen to start his new life in America.

The stakes are enormous for Eric, who has left behind his home country and family thousands of miles away to build a new life in America. But there are also high stakes for the older adults as well. Jill and Carl’s world has slowly shrunk, so for them, the test is an opportunity to find a renewed sense of purpose and community. But this is about more than studying for an exam: it’s about being there and supporting each other. The relationship that develops is transformational. These two very different groups of people will become family.