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

Great movie, very real. I gave it a 9 out of 10 because I could tell how Kate Del Castillo was faking the "camba" accent sometimes, however Demian Bichir was a truly "paceño." I had no idea he was Mexican, I thought he was Bolivian. I was surprised seeing Kate Del Castillo, I have seen her in many "telenovelas" before, but is the first time I see her in a movie. Anyways they were both really good. Great story and very real, even "las cholitas"...wow. La Paz was beautiful, I was impressed by how well the images of the city were captured, made me feel back home. The American embassy part was great, I remember seeing how people got rejected the same way, very real. Also the name of the bodyguard, Severo, great choice. Again the scenes of La Paz were amazing, I recommend to watch this movie, and is a must for Bolivians.

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.

I have not yet seen the film but i was told that this film was one of the greatest films that Bolivia has produced and directed. Both my parents are from Bolivia. I appreciated my roots and i encourage everyone to go watch this movie when it gets to the states. I will be watching the film sooner than people in the states because i will be going to Bolivia for the holidays this December. I have overseen the plot of the movie and it seems that this movie had a lot of issues that other Latin American countries go through and I am proud to say that it was represented from a Bolivian prospective.... well what else to say but Viva Bolivia...