El Norte [The North] **** (1984, Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez, David Villalpando, Ernesto Gómez Cruz) – Classic Movie Review 9842

Director Gregory Nava’s timely 1984 milestone immigrant saga El Norte [The North] is the moving, thoughtful and exciting tale of a Guatemalan brother and sister who escape across the US – Mexico border to LA when soldiers murder their parents.

El Norte [The North] is a powerful human drama, conscious of politics but not preachy, impressively made by director Nava, who divides the time between the hazards of the journey to the North and the trials of youngsters’ new life there.

The main cast are Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez as Rosa, David Villalpando as Enrique, Ernesto Gómez Cruz as Arturo, Alicia Del Lago, Eraclio Zepeda and Stella Quan.

El Norte [The North] is directed by Gregory Nava, runs 139 minutes, is made by American Playhouse, Independent Productions, Channel Four Films, Island Alive and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), is released by Cinecom Pictures (1984) (US), is written by Anna Thomas (writer) and Gregory Nava (story), is shot by James Glennon, is produced by Anna Thomas, Bertha Navarro and Trevor Black, and is scored by Los Folkloristas.

Anna Thomas and Gregory Nava were Oscar nominated in 1985 for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9842 

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