UK / USA,
1983, 139 min
Directed by:
Gregory NavaCinematography:
James GlennonCast:
Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, Lupe Ontiveros, Enrique Castillo, Mike Gomez, Sheryl Bernstein, Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Diane Cary, Trinidad Silva, Larry Cedar (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
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. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1985 - Anna Thomas, Gregory Nava (Best Original Screenplay)
Cannes Film Festival
- 1984 - Gregory Nava (Un Certain Regard)
Montreal World Film Festival
- 1984 - Gregory Nava (Grand Prize)