Padre Nuestro (2007)

Director:

Christopher Zalla

Writer:

Christopher Zalla (writer)

Release Date:

5 October 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A Mexican boy smuggles himself to Brooklyn to meet his long-lost father - only to have his identity stolen upon arrival by an impostor who seeks to steal the fathers' fortune. |

Plot Keywords:

Smuggle | Mexican | Immigrant

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Jesús Ochoa	...	Diego
Armando Hernández	...	Juan
Jorge Adrián Espíndola	...	Pedro
Paola Mendoza	...	Magda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sean Andrew	...	Police Officer #2
Leonardo Anzures	...	Simon
Luis Antonio Aponte	...	Foreman
Jean Brassard	...	Restaurant Owner
Barbara Danicka	...	Polish Woman
Eugenio Derbez	...	Anibal
Ricky Garcia	...	Restaurant Worker
Scott Glascock	...	John
Lev Gorn	...	Rough-Shave
Israel Hernández	...	Ricardo
Yarida Hernandez	...	Woman
Matthew Kehoe	...	Art handler
Jessica Kelly	...	Pig-Tails
Lenny Ligotti	...	Police Officer #1
Edward McGinty	...	US Border Patrol Officer
Randall Newsome	...	Truck Driver
Don Puglisi	...	Jimmy
Greta Quispe	...	Coat Check Girl
Rajiv Rao	...	Store Clerk
Jaime Santiago Sánchez	...	Skinny Man / Old Worker
Santos	...	Cowboy Hat Mexican
Yury Tsykun	...	Russian Man
Juan Villarreal	...	Shopkeeper
Teresa Yenque	...	Senora

Also Known As:

Sangre de mi sangre (USA) (new title) (USA: Spanish title)
Padre nuestro (Argentina) (festival title)

Runtime:

USA:110 min | Argentina:110 min

Country:

USA | Argentina

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Cinergy Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: (2008-11-26)" (2008)

The other side of Under the Same Moon

This movie really really amazed me and also kind of renewed my faith in Mexican cinema, although it is set in New York. As mentioned on this page, I definitely saw it as a counterpoint to Under the Same Moon, and it even features one of the same actors. It shows the side of (illegal) immigration that turns respectful, principled people into criminals and liars (and vice versa I would say). In his book "Las peliculas de mi vida" Alberto Fuguet quotes an el salvadorian cab driver as saying that everyone in El Salvador is a criminal but once they reach the USA they are all about helping each other. This movie, of course, attests to the contrary. It forces viewers to question their views about the plight of illegal immigrants, obviously, but also raises questions about the idea of entitlement and family. I can't recommend it enough, not only to fans of Latin American cinema, but to any North American who wants to see how bad the illegal immigrant experience can be.

Also excellent performances by the whole cast, but for me Armando Hernandez stole the show. I had only seen him previously in "Amar te duele," so obviously this was a pleasant surprise for me, but he oscillates between mildly menacing and downright sinister and despicable in a performance that affected me more than anything I've seen in a while. I'm sure he'll be getting some roles worthy of him based on this performance. Honorable mention as well to Juan Diego and Paola Mendoza, they were great.

For me, this is the kind of movie that I want to show to everyone I know, just because it is the kind of movie that made me question many ideas held by Mexicans and North Americans about the American dream. I think that although it is a much darker picture of Mexican entrance into America, it does coincide with Under the Same Moon in that very strong ties, and sometimes even familial ties, are formed based on shared language and/or experience. Watch this movie!