American Visa

(2006) American Visa (In Mexico with English subtitles) DRAMA/ THRILLER

Adapted from the novel by Co-produced, co-written and directed by Juan Carlos Valdivia Low budget and another strictly by the book film about ordinary Mexican man leaving his teaching days behind to live in the United States where his already grown up son's been living assuming that he could slip through the cracks through immigration and the officials put a harder stance on Mexican visitors since others may have tried a similar tactic and doesn't realize it forcing him to resort to doing something illegal. The politics and the system regarding people who want to go past the border is interesting but everything else is nothing new.

In this film of the Bolivian/Mexican Director Valdivia,he take us to La Paz Bolivia to tell us the story of the English teacher plays by Bichir and his problems to get the American Visa, issue very common even for Mexican despite of the $100 usd ,that we have top pay to process it The story tell us something very explored for Mexican movies ,draw more attention to see Kate del Castillo in her role of table dancer as a Mexican Demi Moore or the loving relationship that she and Bichir had in that time instead of the story for itself that simply shows the drama that Bichir lives and his despair that make him commit many stupid actions,and Kate's struggle to stop him without get it,Kate in her search to consolidate her film career offer something more than show her nice-looking body and get some good chemistry with Bichir and at the end ,the film just concludes that American people are as corrupt as the Mexican

I enjoyed watching this film. It is mixture of characters and story-line that, at times, doesn't merge too well. Demian Bichir plays a father that wishes to travel to the USA to see his son, but also to stay there and work. Kate Del Castillo plays the hooker-pole-dancer with the heart of gold who loves her country, Bolivia, in spite of the poverty. One can see on this film, the potential for better roles in the English language for her, like Trade and Under the Same Moon (Bajo la misma Luna). The corruption and the description of the "gringos" in this film is greatly exaggerated, but it will play well with the core audiences. I recommend the film because of its entertainment value. It has good acting, good music and great visuals, to go with a decent story line, if one does not pay too much attention to details.

I liked this movie, I haven't seen many national films, but the ones I've seen haven't been very good or real. This one on the other hand, I believe, reflects very well reality. I've been there... asking for an American Visa and even though I only wanted to visit the country I did feel like they were treating me as a criminal, and I know many stories of people who are desperate for getting a Visa. The actors did a very good job, and I appreciate the effort they put into the accents even though they weren't perfect. It was a simple storyline, but sometimes that works in movies. The characters were very believable and it was easy to relate to them.

Nothing really worthy but the photography. I believe this is a good effort for the Mexican movie-making industry but unfortunately Demian Bichir's performance is just like his other movies: A MAJOR FAILURE!! The movie was expected to succeeded in Theather in Mexico because Demian and Kate's relationship but to be true, this movie has nothing but a good photography. The adaptation is poor and the performances are a major disgrace!. Someone supposes that Demian Bichir is a good actor and all his movies will work, but you can check that out and you'll find that since he thinks that he's the best Mexican actor, all his movies have failed. A shame for the production companies, and we're in the right way for making an industry!. Keep on!!!