...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him

After reading Y no se lo trago la tierra, I was very curious to see how it's unique writing style of flashbacks and memories would be transferred into film. The book, even though confusing at times, brought very vivid images into my imagination and even caused chills down my arms on occasion. The film, though brilliantly shot doesn't do the book justice.

I don't know how the film-makers decided which parts of the book actually made it into the film, but one of the saddest stories in the book, "The Night Before Christmas," about the children at Christmas time not getting anything but fruit as presents and the mother who was prone to panic attacks, was completely left out of the film. To me, this was one of the stories, that gave me chills and even made me teary eyed. I really wish the film-makers would have included this story.

I was also not pleased with some of the unnecessary changes to some of the details in the book. In the book, Marcos wants to be a telephone operator and in the film, a radio operator. Why dishonor the author's choice of words? The film does has wonderful moments, like the mother praying for her son's safe return home. It was sad in the book but heartbreaking on film. All in all, I think the film should be shown as a companion piece to the book but no movie could have captured the visuals I saw in my mind while reading this book.

Sergio Perez manages to enhance and convey the original work of Tomas Rivera through style and voice.

This film is a good companion for comparison to the original book titled "Y No se lo Trago la Tierra..." (And the Earth did not Devour Him...)by Tomas Rivera. Rivera's work is critiqued as impressionist work, and this movie depicts this style. Sergio Perez Films has brought my imagination to life.

Both subtle and clear devices of suggestion were used through the language, set background, and plot to achieve the power of suggestion and communication.

The film was made with meticulous details with regards to life as a migrant worker in the mid 1900's. The film portrays religious, mythical and family values in the midst of adversity. Adversity which makes mankind strong.

Get your compassion Kleenex out... you'll love this movie.

I was very moved by the young life experiences of a man who rose so high in the academic world. A hard life surrounded by the love of a close family and extended family of companion workers created a person able to succeed in the world. For the most part the Hispanic culture is shown as I have always observed and admired - hardworking, optimistic, and truly family oriented. The points of religious superstition were quite authentic to the Catholic church. Without a doubt,the actress who played the mother deserves an Academy Award. Her prayers for her missing son moved me to tears. I will recommend this stunningly thoughtful film to my friends and family.

This movie, an adaption of Tomas Rivera's short novel "...y no se lo trago la tierra" (And the Earth Did Not Devour Him), is a fairly accurate representation of both Hispanic social/religious values and the social/political hardships of Latino migrant workers during the mid twentieth century (i.e. worker exploitation and social discrimination).

This film's producers and director did a very good job of choosing to adapt to cinema a select few of the novel's passages to achieve a story that strikes a very good balance between presenting Hispanic culture and the numerous challenges facing migrant workers, thus resulting in a coherent story via the observations and reflections of the protagonist that sincerely describes the life, in general, of Latino migrant workers.

I definitely recommend this movie and the book for those who need some enlightenment about the shame of worker exploitation and the strength of the human spirit.

Peace to All...

The movie ". . . And The Earth Did not Swallow Him," based on the book by Tomas Rivera, is an eye-opening movie for most people. It talks about the exploitation that migrant farmworkers go through in order to survive.

Sergio Perez uses impressionistic techniques to depict Rivera's story. He uses sienna and gray-scale effects to depict some of the scenes, and he uses specific photographic techniques to make the scenes look like they took place in the 1950s.

Perez also gives life to the film by using time-appropriate music, including balladeering and guitar playing.

I feel that it is a good film to view because it shows in detail how migrant farmworkers live, what they do for entertainment, and their beliefs.