Sin Nombre (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
We know it's tough for illegal immigrants to make their way over the Texan border, but rarely do we understand why or how they travel to the border. In some cases, like here in 'Sin Nombre' (written & directed by Cary Fukunaga), it's the getting TO the border that's the nightmare - not crossing it. There are 2 sides to the story, here. The 1st side deals with Sayra (Paulina Gaitan); a teen who embarks on a journey with her dad & uncle from poverty-stricken Honduras -through the dangerous terrain (and peoples) of Mexico - to border patrol at Texas - and to their ultimate goal ... New Jersey (of all places). They know the trip will be long, arduous, & highly dangerous; but it offers Sayra more of a chance of doing something with her life than sitting around in Honduras (how sad).
Meanwhile, up in Mexico, Willy (Edgar Flores), who goes by the name 'El Casper', is a gang member involved in the brutal indoctrination of new recruit, Smiley (Kristian Ferrer), a starry-eyed 12 yr. old. Willy's gang, led by the formidable (and multi-tatooed) Lil Mago (Tenoch Huerta Mejia) is revving up for war with a rival gang. When Willy doesn't show up to help Smiley make his 1st initiation kill (he was actually with his secret girlfriend), Lil Mago loses his cool, tragedy strikes, & so sets the stage for the 2nd side of this story. Sayra & Willy meet up on this fateful odyssey (she to get to the promised land that is America, he to escape his violent past & the unforgiving gang). But will newfound friendship, faith, trust, & street smarts be enough for the 2 of them to reach their goal together? Well, I gotta tell ya, the conclusion of the film is not a happy one for everyone involved. There's some hope, but I warn you, it ain't happy.
Now, 'Sin Nombre' is not about immigration. There's very little subtext about it. This film is just story; a travelogue, if you will. We meet the characters; figure out who they were, are, & aim to be; and watch them make their way through Central America atop of a slow-moving train. These people are willing to risk prison, deportation, & even death for a chance to get to the U.S. When you see the conditions/situations they come from, you can guess why. But also, why can't they just head south for South America if Central America is so uneducated, disempowered, poverty-stricken, & overrun by gangs? But I digress.
At 90 minutes, the film moves at a nice pace (though, I feel it needed a good 10 min. of additional exposition to round out the characters/story). The plot has built-in tension (showcasing the institution of gangs, why they exist, & how their influence is only spreading ... unfortunately), but nothing that will overwhelm you or get you that jazzed up about it. The strong suit of the movie (other than its acting & decent cinematography of the ramshackled Central American countryside) is the evocation of the immigrant experience. We now have evidence (because it seems authentic/realistic) of how the immigrant makes their way; so to speak.
I can't put my finger on why I didn't love 'Sin Nombre'. It's a movie that takes risks; while still being intimate. The violence is palpable. The chemistry btwn. Gaitan & Flores is sweet, & comes across quite naturally. The visuals (of atrocious things) are filmed very well. It's a movie that made me think about what I was watching. And yet, it's so ugly that I wouldn't want to see it again -- the whole thing makes me sad. I feel for these individuals, but I so highly disapprove of illegal immigration - that the 2 feelings clashed inside me (both while I was watching, and now, as I type). Another issue I have with the film: after one hour + of great verisimilitude & authenticism, the final 10 min. or so resorts to such coincidence & melodrama that it took me right out of the loose transfixation the film had had on me. I have mixed feelings about 'Sin Nombre', hence my C+/2.5 rating.
Meanwhile, up in Mexico, Willy (Edgar Flores), who goes by the name 'El Casper', is a gang member involved in the brutal indoctrination of new recruit, Smiley (Kristian Ferrer), a starry-eyed 12 yr. old. Willy's gang, led by the formidable (and multi-tatooed) Lil Mago (Tenoch Huerta Mejia) is revving up for war with a rival gang. When Willy doesn't show up to help Smiley make his 1st initiation kill (he was actually with his secret girlfriend), Lil Mago loses his cool, tragedy strikes, & so sets the stage for the 2nd side of this story. Sayra & Willy meet up on this fateful odyssey (she to get to the promised land that is America, he to escape his violent past & the unforgiving gang). But will newfound friendship, faith, trust, & street smarts be enough for the 2 of them to reach their goal together? Well, I gotta tell ya, the conclusion of the film is not a happy one for everyone involved. There's some hope, but I warn you, it ain't happy.
Now, 'Sin Nombre' is not about immigration. There's very little subtext about it. This film is just story; a travelogue, if you will. We meet the characters; figure out who they were, are, & aim to be; and watch them make their way through Central America atop of a slow-moving train. These people are willing to risk prison, deportation, & even death for a chance to get to the U.S. When you see the conditions/situations they come from, you can guess why. But also, why can't they just head south for South America if Central America is so uneducated, disempowered, poverty-stricken, & overrun by gangs? But I digress.
At 90 minutes, the film moves at a nice pace (though, I feel it needed a good 10 min. of additional exposition to round out the characters/story). The plot has built-in tension (showcasing the institution of gangs, why they exist, & how their influence is only spreading ... unfortunately), but nothing that will overwhelm you or get you that jazzed up about it. The strong suit of the movie (other than its acting & decent cinematography of the ramshackled Central American countryside) is the evocation of the immigrant experience. We now have evidence (because it seems authentic/realistic) of how the immigrant makes their way; so to speak.
I can't put my finger on why I didn't love 'Sin Nombre'. It's a movie that takes risks; while still being intimate. The violence is palpable. The chemistry btwn. Gaitan & Flores is sweet, & comes across quite naturally. The visuals (of atrocious things) are filmed very well. It's a movie that made me think about what I was watching. And yet, it's so ugly that I wouldn't want to see it again -- the whole thing makes me sad. I feel for these individuals, but I so highly disapprove of illegal immigration - that the 2 feelings clashed inside me (both while I was watching, and now, as I type). Another issue I have with the film: after one hour + of great verisimilitude & authenticism, the final 10 min. or so resorts to such coincidence & melodrama that it took me right out of the loose transfixation the film had had on me. I have mixed feelings about 'Sin Nombre', hence my C+/2.5 rating.