El Norte

DVD format. Running time: 139 minutes. Full frame. Product Description

Harrowing, true and masterful depiction of a tragic journey

"El Norte" is one of the most scarring, deep, and harrowing movies I have seen. The film was directed by Gregory Nava (Selena, Bordertown and wrote the screenplay for Frida). It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. This movie was made in response to the large scale extermination and discrimination of the indigenous people in Guatemala which forced many of them into a large scale exiled to the North.

The movie covers the plight of two young indigenous siblings (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando) who must escape their native Guatemala because of persecution against the indigenous people. Their father was murdered, the mother "disappears" and soldiers round up various people in their village, all because they wanted to form a labor union. Fearing for their lives, the two young siblings decide to go North.

Throughout the film we see the hard journey as they travel from Guatemala to the United States. They encounter poverty, blatant racism, discrimination, illness and death.

The movie employs the surroundings as another character, showcasing the beautiful coffee fields of Guatemala in contrast with poverty-stricken Tijuana, Mexico and the arid California town where the poor and rich live in visibly divided class lines. The film also uses magical realism, a widely used and important literary mechanism (see One Hundred Years of Solitude, Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community), to show the influences of culture. Foreboding is also part of this film, as it comes full circle with repeated lines and images.

The film is nothing less than masterful and I equal how I felt when I was done watching it as the same devastating, catatonic, unable-to-cry-cause-I-am-in-shock-feeling from when I saw Requiem for a Dream. The film is devastating, true, and uncompromising in its depiction of these two young siblings and their sad and tragic journey.

It is one of the best and most realistic movies I have seen. There is a scene with rats when the siblings are crossing the US border. The actress, Zaide Silvia Gutierrez, insisted that she would do the scene herself with the rats. Nevermind that she had a phobia of rats. Such is the commitment of the writers (Gregory Nava and Anna Thomas), actors and director to this movie. It was something they believed in. It was a movie that is nothing less than excellent.
July 24, 2008

A great movie

This movie opens in Guatemala's countryside. The beautiful scenery, marimba music sharply contrast the country's civil war and the military's attempt at genocide of the indigenous people. Rosa and Enrique decide to escape Guatemala for the US (El Norte). The trek through Mexico, the coyotes, border patrol, "la migra", the fear they live with, prejudices and attempt to assimilate in the new culture; make this a poignant, moving and compelling film.
This is a great film, rich in symbolism. The storyline is sensitive and memorable. Especially now with all these immigration talks and fears, this film can lead to great discussions and the need to be more tolerant and human with each other.
Even though this movie is slightly dated, (made in the 80's) so much of it still holds true today. Many people dream of a new life here only to find a new struggle. Even the opportunities they find usually include low-paying jobs in food industry, housekeeping and landscaping. I highly recommend this movie. January 17, 2008

tear jerker

i saw this film on video when i ws a high school junior in 1985. i enjhoyed the film then. i saw it again a few years later and i was a little older. the second viewing had such a powerful emotional impact. whether you are pro or anti immigration, you will feel the films power. my applause to this early film of director gregory nava (american family & selena) as another reviewer stated, have a box of tissue handy. September 17, 2007

Amazing movie, but here's a warning!

This movie is amazing, a powerful story of a brother and sister who try to escape poverty, to get into the US and make something of themselves. But a word of caution: the version of El Norte that you get from this page is in Region 0, NOT Region 1. This means it was made by someone, not professionally done. It also, inevitably, means lower quality. But I still recommend it. It's a great film, and it's probably not actually out in an official Region 1 release yet, only on VHS. July 18, 2007

Wonderful tear-jerker

Every American should see this movie. Really amazing. It is stunning, moving, and thought provoking. Only about 0.3% of the world's population could actually watch this movie without subtitles, though as it is in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and a Guatemalan native dialect. Bring a box of tissue for the impact. June 25, 2007

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