Sin Nombre
Sin Nombre is a sensitive film on illegal immigrants who tries to migrate to pursue American dream without proper documents. This movie is directorial debut for Cary Fukunaga, a 31 year old American. The film is also written by him and the inspiration of the story is from the incident of 2003 when 80 illegal immigrants were caught in Texas and locked in trucks where 19 of them succumbed to death.
Sin Nombre meaning without a name is a story of a long journey to North filled with threat of death, risk of life and every moment of violence. There is fleeting moment of romance and split of second of humor, mostly transient. It is a riveting tale of fear, insecurity and hope to live a better tomorrow.
Sin Nombre revolves with two stories. On one side there is the young woman Sayra from Honduras who along with her father and uncle is set to reach New Jersey to meet their relatives through a circumlocution route of Mexico and Guatemala. While on the other hand there is Willy, played by Edgar Flores who is the youngest gang member hailing from South of Mexico. He is on a mission to rob people who are travelling on the top of the freight vehicles that are on the way to North. It is here that Sayra meets Willy.
The motive behind the journey of Sayra and her father and uncle is simple. They believe that the land on the other side is greener and New Jersey can prove to be not only safer but better haven. This journey will remind the audience of the scenes and shots of Gregory Nava’s El Norte. In El Norte, journey was brutal while Sin Nombre reflects a sordid tale of fear-filled odyssey northwards.
Brutality is introduced in Sin Nombre through shots where the gang members are fiercely tattooed men with face masked to rage a war. Willy or Casper as he was nicknamed was forced to join the gang. Casper, Lil’ Mago the leader of the gang and Smiley aged 12 years, three together board the northbound train to rob the riders. It is here that only Casper’s fate also gets sealed with Sayra.
One will be aghast with fear and shocked with gruesome truth that what gang culture can impose and instill on an unshielded young mind. It is the character of Smiley, who initially gets beaten by his gang members only to emerge as a killer himself at the end ready to call the shots anytime anywhere. Such is the strong force of hypnotic culture of a gang.
Some of the shots in the film are just so beautifully captured; it surely presents the serene virgin charm of countryside. Even the young director tried to put a classical editing touch to the film. His first directorial film looks quite matured in terms of quality and finesse. Fukunaga seemed seamlessly blended with the story. The film is extremely well photographed by Adriano Goldman.
The film has already been adjudged for Best direction and Best Cinematography at Sundane 2009. The film is rated R for the reference of sex, language and violent sequences.
Film: Sin Nombre
Cast: Edgar Flores, Paulina Gaitan, Kristyan Ferrer
Director: Cary Fukunaga
Writer: Cary Fukunaga
Cinematographer: Adriano Goldman
Languages: Spanish with subtitles in English
Running time: 1 hour and 36 minutes
Rating: 3/5
Posted on Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am
April 27th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I found this movie very powerful and I have kept thinking the movie long after I saw it. It was compared to Slum Dog but I found it far grittier and more realistic.
I felt as though I have more of an understanding to the immigrant plight.
Catharine
June 6th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
great film……
January 19th, 2011 at 6:59 am
this movie really tough my heart. i still wonder is it true in real life.
October 28th, 2011 at 8:10 am
Edgar flores is really cut