America 101 (2005)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Mark A. Russell

Writers:

Mark A. Russell (writer)
Michael Wasserman (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

And they thought getting here was tough...

Plot:

Two Mexican brothers get smuggled over the border to try and find their "America Dream".

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Miguel Castro	...	Angel
Richard Azurdia	...	Carlos
Christine Carlo	...	Maria
Gerald Brodin	...	Cowboy Jack
Jordi Caballero	...	El Coyote
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kris Bies	...	Larissa
Michael Cashore	...	Rambunctious American / Laborer
Jonathan Cherry	...	Not-so-homeless student
Rafael Feldman	...	Ricardo (as Raphael Feldman)
Yan Feldman	...	Romeo
Matthew Henerson	...	Hotel Manager
Rob Hyland	...	Border Patrolman
Allen Maldonado	...	Train Station Agent
Rafaela Martinez	...	Espinosa Mother
Trinidad 'Zeus' Nizelli	...	Low Rider
Alberto C. Ojeda	...	Jose
Louie Olivos Jr.	...	Espinosa Father
Corinne Russell	...	Hot Chick
Mitch Sorenson	...	Zeke
Trent Steele	...	Barry
Guillermo Ivan Thomas	...	Ivan

Runtime:

USA:86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Fobia Films

A comedic tutorial about how to survive a border crossing into southern Arizona, and better yet how to get back to where you came from

This is a story of two very different brothers living in Sonora Mexico helping their family run their local bakery. Angel is the younger brother who has dreams that don't include slaving over an oven all day, he dreams of fast money and the good life which he believes is waiting for him in America. Carlos the older brother is bound by family obligation, doing the right thing, and a girlfriend who is desperate to marry him. Carlos tries to talk Angel out of his crazy dream of going to the states, until he learns via a late night conversation between his parents that the bakery isn't prospering like he thought. Before you know, the two of them are set out for the harsh desert in hope's of making a better life.

It doesn't take long before you are fully engaged with these character's and their story. This movie was smart and funny, it kept you on your toes. These are character's that you can't help but care about, which is all I ask for when I'm watching a film, no matter what the genre.

This was my first experience seeing an independent film in HD, and it just added to the overall experience of this very entertaining film.

Although this movie was light in it's context regarding the very serious issue of boarder crossing, I don't think that the viewer was lost on this issue, and I congratulate the film makers for that.