So I was aiming to watch another flick at my AMC movie theater in Chicago when I came across a poster just outside the ticket booth area. It immediately caught my eye. It was a man looking right at me, but you can only see half his face. I then looked at the title, "En Algun Lugar" and I was like, "what the heck does that mean?" Underneath it says "Love knows no borders." Huh?????
There was a large crowd forming outside the booth area and they were standing around a blue sign that read, "Chicago Latino Film Festival." A rep walked up to me and asked me if I had any questions. I pointed at the En Algun Lugar poster and she said, yep, that's one of our films. We only have a limited amount of tickets left for the evening's show.
Okay, I get it, you're trying to sell me tickets, whatever. I said thanks but no thanks.
So I proceed to buy a ticket to another movie when guess what happens? Yep, my movie is sold out. Really? Ugh! So, I turned around and there across from me is the man who is on the poster. It's the actor!!! He and a group of folks head up to the theaters and I quickly follow, but now I need a ticket. Luckily I got one of the last tickets (that rep wasn't lying after all).
So I take my seat and the theater is packed! Remember, i know nothing about this movie except for the fact they cast an extremely attractive man and he's in the theater with me. (YAY!!!)
The lights dim to black and...
... well, I am happy to say after nearly two hours you quickly realize there was a specific response the filmmakers were trying to achieve from its audience. It caught me off guard because at first, I was worried when the characters seemed glossed over with the typical cliche techniques often found in romantic dramas, but then it is completely removed when a hyper-realistic quality takes over the film. It was truly welcomed as it gave the film and its audience a sense of energy often found in action films or suspense thrillers (this is not a bad thing, just a bad example on my part, but when you see the film you'll get what I'm saying, AND YOU'LL AGREE with me).
I think the filmmakers chose to do this to offer a specific narrative often experienced by the men and women who grew up in the United States without legal immigration status. Yep, that's what I believe the tagline "Love Knows No Borders" was pertaining to on its poster, and man did they nail it!
On a side note, I will say this, this film does not shy away from the tragic situations many living in the shadows have to endure, but they do provide some tongue and cheek comedy relief from one character named Brolio played by Jessie Perez. Just when things get desperate or low in energy Brolio pops up and brings us some welcomed energy to a desperate situation. Some may welcome this, while others may see this as a cop-out to a realistic situation going on in our country today. I'd agree with said cop out feelings, but again there is a specific response they want the audience to experience so they need to show the humor and glossiness; my opinion.
To that end, that attractive actor's name, the one on the poster, is Andrew Saenz, and he was great, but it's his co-star Nelson Rodriguez who steals the show with his small and subtle actions. I mean let us be honest, these two actors share a strong bond on screen and I would not for one second think there was not some true romance between them while the cameras were not rolling. (If not, then damn, these two guys are some true thespians!)
Yes, this film is unique and has a political position in its undertones, but it does not slap you in the face with it, rather it provides you with an opportunity to at least see what it's like to want to be loved while borders dictate who you can love, and that's the core message... LOVE (should) KNOW NO BORDERS.
