Norte, El

El Norte is a film made with great heart about Third World poverty and the yellow brick road to the American Dream. Written by director Nava and the film's producer (his wife), Anna Thomas, it tells the story of a brother and sister who escape the military-controlled oppression of their village life and journey to mythical America ("El Norte") in search of a better future after their parents are murdered.

Divided into three parts that cover their village life, their passage through Mexico and their time in America, the first part which shows their life in Guatemala is captivating, with some beautiful "magic realism" style imagery (cinematographic credits go to James Glennon) that contrasts with the oppression of their lives. As the film progresses the balance shifts.  As the pair gain freedom from tyranny their surrounds become uglier with the anything goes consequences of free enterprise.

Although obviously constrained by budgetary limitations, at its best the film is reminiscent of Bunuel's Mexican films with their profound sympathy for the realities of the lives of the poor and not a little of his fatalistic perspective on them. At least in hindsight, however, the film is too long, especially the third part which could have done with considerable re-shaping and the ending feels somewhat contrived, determined more by the film-maker's agenda than the characters themselves. The relevance of these aesthetic criticisms will of course depend on how close one is to the political and moral issues with which the film deals. Nevertheless as a film about the Latin American immigrant experience in the US, or indeed probably any poor, stateless people trying to access the world of the haves, El Norte is a worthy effort.

 

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