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
Rodolfo De Alexandre	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Sean O'Kane	...	Immigration oficer (uncredited)
Antonio Prester	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Stella Quan	...	Josefita (uncredited)

Directed by
Gregory Nava

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gregory Nava		story
Anna Thomas		writer

Produced by
Trevor Black	....	producer
Bertha Navarro	....	producer
Anna Thomas	....	producer

Original Music by
The Folkloristas
Malecio Martinez
Linda O'Brien
Emil Richards

Cinematography by
James Glennon

Film Editing by
Betsy Blankett Milicevic		(as Betsy Blankett)

Casting by
Bob Morones

Costume Design by
Hilary Wright

Production Management
Trevor Black	....	production manager: USA
Amanda Gill	....	production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amanda Gill	....	second assistant director
Tony Ogaz	....	third assistant director

Art Department
David Wasco	....	set designer
David Wasco	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Gregg Barbanell	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Arnold Finkelstein	....	assistant sound editor
David Kern	....	sound effects editor
Michael C. Moore	....	sound designer
Michael C. Moore	....	sound recordist
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
Robert Yerington	....	sound recordist
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Glennon	....	first assistant camera: USA
James Glennon	....	second assistant camera: Mexico
Chris Lombardi	....	second assistant camera
Gregory Nava	....	additional photographer: USA
Ronald Vidor	....	camera operator: principal photography (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American Playhouse
• Channel Four Films
• Independent Productions
• Island Alive
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Distributors

• Cinecom Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Aquarius TV (1998) (Greece) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Island Alive (1984) (USA)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Hollywood Title Services  titles
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• Wardell Animation  titles

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:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tierra Mestiza

Really compelling movie.

A Guatamlean brother and sister decide to leave for the north when the "strong arms" kill their mother and father. Rosita and Enrique go through hard times trying to get to America, and have hard times in America. From about ten minutes on until the end I was completely glued to the screen. The movie is split in to three categories, the first is them in Guatemala, the second is them in Tiijuana, and the third is them in America. The acting is great, the script is great, the direction is great, and the Indian music works surprisingly well. The ending of the movie at first glance is just a normal end to a movie, but it has a deeper meaning after watching it again. This is Gregory Nava's best film, and if he will be remembered for any this will be it. I highly recommend this extremely compelling drama, and I personally think this was the best film of 1983.

My rating: **** out of ****. 135 mins. Rated R for Strong Language and Violence.