El Norte

1983
R
2h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

5.8K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:33

1 Video

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Desert Adventure Quest Survival Urban Adventure Adventure Drama

After their family is killed in a government massacre, siblings Enrique and Rosa flee Guatemala and embark on a perilous journey to "El Norte": the United States.After their family is killed in a government massacre, siblings Enrique and Rosa flee Guatemala and embark on a perilous journey to "El Norte": the United States.After their family is killed in a government massacre, siblings Enrique and Rosa flee Guatemala and embark on a perilous journey to "El Norte": the United States.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

5.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total

Rosa
(as Zaide Silvia Gutierrez)

David Villalpando

Enrique

Ernesto Gómez Cruz

Arturo
(as Ernesto Gomez Cruz)

Alicia del Lago

Lupe

Mike Gomez

Informer
(as Mike Gomez Giron)

Jose Martin Ruano

Foreman

Stella Quan

Josefita

Eraclio Zepeda

Pedro

Emilio Gomez Ozuna

Luis

Daniel Lemus Valenzuela

Encarnacion

Rodrigo Puebla

El Puma the Soldier

Yosahandi Navarrete Quan

Josefita's Daughter

Rodolfo De Alejandre

Ramon
(as Rodolfo Alexandre)

Emilio Del Haro

Truck Driver

Jorge Moreno

Old Man on Bus

Palomo Garcia

Coyote at Bus Station

Ismael Gamez

Jeering Slumdweller

Silverio Lujan

Jeering Slumdweller

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The production of El Norte (1983) encountered major problems with Mexican police while shooting on location in Tijuana. According to director Gregory Nava: "One day, men with machine guns took over the set. I had guns pointed at my head. We were forced to shut down production, bribe our way out of the country, fight to get our costumes back, and start shooting again in California." Nava also recalled that Mexican police kidnapped the film's accountant and held him for ransom, and that his own parents had to pose as tourists to smuggle rolls of exposed film across the U.S. border. Back in California, Nava and his crew had to re-create a movie set of the Mexican shanty town where Rosa and Enrique stay before crossing the border.

Goofs
In the final scenes with Enrique on the construction site, the foreman is seen watching Enrique. In a medium shot, he is carrying a rule or spirit level in his left hand as he looks at Enrique. In the next shot, with Enrique in the foreground, the foreman is empty handed.

Quotes
Enrique's friend: You have to learn to talk like a Mexican. Tell me it's a hot day.
Enrique Xuncax: It's a hot day.
Enrique's friend: No! You won't make it two miles past the border. "It's a fucking hot day." Mexicans are always saying fuck. Fuck this, fuck that. Now try it again.

Connections
Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtracks
Raiz Viva
Written by Jose Avila

User reviews58

Featured review

9/10

Coming to America--the untold chapter

Gregory Nava's drama, "El Norte," is hands-down the best film ever made about the Latin American immigrant experience in the US. It's also one of the best films of the 80's.

Wonderfully acted and expertly directed, this film will make you think twice about the "invisible" people who clean your house, watch your kids, make your food, garden your yard, wash your car, etc. This movie puts a face to those people and their day-to-day struggles here in this country. It's not always a pretty picture.

Although this film is fictional, at times it feels like a documentary. It's not a documentary however, because it's also quite funny and it contains elements of magical realism.

This film is a landmark of Latino filmmaking in the US. Watch it today!