El Norte (1983)

Director:

Gregory Nava

Writers:

Gregory Nava (story)
Anna Thomas (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The magical film that reveals the world between the dream and the reality

Plot:

Mayan Indian peasants, tired of being thought of as nothing more than "brazos fuertes" ("strong arms"...

Plot Keywords:

Illegal Immigrant | Indians | Mayan Indians | Mexico | Typhus

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez	...	Rosa Xuncax
David Villalpando	...	Enrique Xuncax
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Arturo Xuncax
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Nacha
Trinidad Silva	...	Monte
Alicia del Lago	...	Lupe Xuncax
Abel Franco	...	Raimundo
Enrique Castillo	...	Jorge
Tony Plana	...	Carlos
Diane Cary	...	Alice Harper (as Diane Civita)
Mike Gomez	...	Jaime
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sheryl Bernstein
Larry Cedar
Sergi Dagliana	...	Olinto
Emilio Del Haro
Gregory Enton
Giuseppe Furia	...	Requiem
Pado Hende	...	Dilvo
Ronald G. Joseph		(as Ron Joseph)
Bo Kane	...	Doctor (as Bob Kane)
Christina Kokubo	...	English teacher
John Martin
Jorge Moreno
George O'Hanlon Jr.
Rodrigo Puebla
Loraine Shields
Julie Silliman
Sabina Vannucchi	...	Rosa
Jomarie Ward		(as Jo Marie Ward)
Slavitza Yhuelo
Heraclio Zepeda	...	Pedro

Also Known As:

The North (International: English title)

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | Maya | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chiapas, Mexico

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1995.

Goofs:

Continuity: The plane that taxis up to the airport building is a DC-10, but the plane seen lifting off towards Chicago is a 747.

Quotes:

Jorge: Rosa... it doesn't matter!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Emperor Waltz

An overlooked classic from Gregory Nava.

El Norte (1983) is sadly an overlooked and underrated film from Gregory Nava. Before he made bio-pictures for Hollywood, Mr. Nava was a great film maker. His heart breaking EL NORTE is about two central American Indian peasants who risk everything so they could start a new life in the land of milk and honey "El Norte". They struggle through many hardships in their travels from Guatemala through the rough and wild terrain of Mexico and the sleazy "Coyotes" who always try to make a buck on the blood and sweat of these immigrant workers who want a chance at the American way of life.

Politics aside (people who have read my reviews know which side I stand on) you have to feel for these people who are willing to work for little just so they could have useless things. Ironically their hard work makes it able for people to buy at cost produce and cheaper goods. A gritty film that'll make you think about what these so called "illegals" have to go through. I wished this movie was available on d.v.d. in a restored format. I saw this film many years ago. The print was dark and grainy. The audio was no great shakes either. One day, people will be able to see this film. Until then check your local libraries or maybe by some ray of hope P.B.S. will air it once more (but considering the current leadership of P.B.S. that's highly unlikely).

Highest recommendation possible.