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Storyline
Mayan Indian peasants, tired of being thought of as nothing more than "brazos fuertes" ("strong arms", i.e., manual laborers) and organizing in an effort to improve their lot in life, are discovered by the Guatemalan army. After the army destroys their village and family, a brother and sister, teenagers who just barely escaped the massacre, decide they must flee to "El Norte" ("the North", i.e., the USA). After receiving clandestine help from friends and humorous advice from a veteran immigrant on strategies for traveling through Mexico, they make their way by truck, bus and other means to Los Angeles, where they try to make a new life as young, uneducated, and illegal immigrants. Written by
Ed Cannon <ecannon@mail.utexas.edu>
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The magical film that reveals the world between the dream and the reality
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The immigration office scene was shot in an actual immigration office in California.
David Villalpando and
Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez were legitimately anxious while filming this scene, because they did not have official working papers that would have permitted them to work legally in the United States and were only carrying travel visas. Fortunately, none of the actual immigration officers second-guessed.
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Goofs
Whe Rosa and Enrique go through the tunnel, it is high enough for them to crawl on hands and knees, yet they crawl through on their stomaches.
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Quotes
Jorge:
Rosa... it doesn't matter!
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Soundtracks
"Adagio for Strings"
Written by
Samuel Barber See more »
El Norte (1983) is sadly an overlooked and underrated film from Gregory Nava. Before he made bio-pictures for Hollywood, Mr. Nava was a great film maker. His heart breaking EL NORTE is about two central American Indian peasants who risk everything so they could start a new life in the land of milk and honey "El Norte". They struggle through many hardships in their travels from Guatemala through the rough and wild terrain of Mexico and the sleazy "Coyotes" who always try to make a buck on the blood and sweat of these immigrant workers who want a chance at the American way of life.
Politics aside (people who have read my reviews know which side I stand on) you have to feel for these people who are willing to work for little just so they could have useless things. Ironically their hard work makes it able for people to buy at cost produce and cheaper goods. A gritty film that'll make you think about what these so called "illegals" have to go through. I wished this movie was available on d.v.d. in a restored format. I saw this film many years ago. The print was dark and grainy. The audio was no great shakes either. One day, people will be able to see this film. Until then check your local libraries or maybe by some ray of hope P.B.S. will air it once more (but considering the current leadership of P.B.S. that's highly unlikely).
Highest recommendation possible.