El Norte (1983)

Director:

Gregory Nava

Writers:

Gregory Nava (story)
Anna Thomas (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The magical film that reveals the world between the dream and the reality

Plot:

Mayan Indian peasants, tired of being thought of as nothing more than "brazos fuertes" ("strong arms"...

Plot Keywords:

Immigrant | Illegal Immigrant | Mexico | Mayan Indian | Farmer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez	...	Rosa Xuncax
David Villalpando	...	Enrique Xuncax
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Arturo Xuncax
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Nacha
Trinidad Silva	...	Monte
Alicia del Lago	...	Lupe Xuncax
Abel Franco	...	Raimundo
Enrique Castillo	...	Jorge
Tony Plana	...	Carlos
Diane Cary	...	Alice Harper (as Diane Civita)
Mike Gomez	...	Jaime
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sheryl Bernstein
Larry Cedar
Sergi Dagliana	...	Olinto
Emilio Del Haro
Gregory Enton
Giuseppe Furia	...	Requiem
Pado Hende	...	Dilvo
Ronald G. Joseph		(as Ron Joseph)
Bo Kane	...	Doctor (as Bob Kane)
Christina Kokubo	...	English teacher
John Martin
Jorge Moreno
George O'Hanlon Jr.
Rodrigo Puebla
Loraine Shields
Julie Silliman
Sabina Vannucchi	...	Rosa
Jomarie Ward		(as Jo Marie Ward)
Slavitza Yhuelo
Heraclio Zepeda	...	Pedro
Rodolfo De Alexandre	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Sean O'Kane	...	Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Antonio Prester	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Stella Quan	...	Josefita (uncredited)

Directed by
Gregory Nava

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gregory Nava		story
Anna Thomas		writer

Produced by
Trevor Black	....	producer
Bertha Navarro	....	producer
Anna Thomas	....	producer

Original Music by
The Folkloristas
Malecio Martinez
Linda O'Brien
Emil Richards

Cinematography by
James Glennon

Film Editing by
Betsy Blankett Milicevic		(as Betsy Blankett)

Casting by
Bob Morones

Costume Design by
Hilary Wright

Production Management
Trevor Black	....	production manager: USA
Amanda Gill	....	production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amanda Gill	....	second assistant director
Tony Ogaz	....	third assistant director

Art Department
David Wasco	....	set designer
David Wasco	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Gregg Barbanell	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Arnold Finkelstein	....	assistant sound editor
David Kern	....	sound effects editor
Michael C. Moore	....	sound designer
Michael C. Moore	....	sound recordist
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
Robert Yerington	....	sound recordist
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Glennon	....	first assistant camera: USA
James Glennon	....	second assistant camera: Mexico
Chris Lombardi	....	second assistant camera
Gregory Nava	....	additional photographer: USA
Ronald Vidor	....	camera operator: principal photography (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American Playhouse
• Channel Four Films
• Independent Productions
• Island Alive
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Distributors

• Cinecom Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Aquarius TV (1998) (Greece) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Island Alive (1984) (USA)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Hollywood Title Services  titles
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Wardell Animation  titles

Also Known As:

"The North" - International (English title) (literal English title)

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | Maya | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chiapas, Mexico

Company:

American Playhouse

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.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Enrique sees that Rosa has died, for a couple seconds we still see her breathing.

Quotes:

Jorge:Rosa... it doesn't matter!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)

El Norte....

I first saw this movie when I was a kid and it just stayed with me. There are still some scenes that I don't forget. This is a really sad yet great story of a brother and sister who come to the US and how they suffer. You can practically feel the love and respect that they have for each other, it's wonderful. The parts that most stick in my mind are the Mexican sweet bread theft, the dryer machine incident and the rats in the sewer. It's been over 15 years since I've seen it. Great actors in this movie and good, realistic theme. It is an absolutely awesome movie and I would totally recommend it to everyone! Enjoy it!!!!