Sin Nombre directed by Cary Fukunaga (Scion Films, Canana
Films, and Creando Films, R, 96 min)
Starring Paulina
Gaitan, Edgar Flores, and Kristian Ferrer.
35,000 Feet between Cultures
An airplane flies overhead as the characters look up in awe,
dreaming of the day that they too can board a passenger plane. This scene is a
brief but defining moment in Sin Nombre.
It expresses the distance between the life of the viewer and the life depicted
on screen.
Shot in Mexico and with dialogue in Spanish, Sin Nombre depicts the intertwining
lives of two characters, Sayra (Paulina Gaitan) and Willy “El Casper” (Edgar
Flores), as they escape the poverty and gang culture of Honduras.
Strikingly Different People, Strikingly Similar Pursuits
Sayra, with her father and uncle in tow, seeks refuge in the
United States. With only a small amount of money to share between the three,
the group stows away on the top of a train heading from Honduras through Mexico
to the United States.
Meanwhile, Willy, a gang member known as “El Casper” flees
his brethren after a fatal fit of rage left a homie dead. You see, Willy’s
fellow gang member killed the love of his life when it was revealed that Willy
shirked his duties to spend time with her.
As such, Willy finds himself on the same train knowing full
well that his quest to escape his gang is an uphill battle since the price on
his head is astronomical.
Through the adventures of escaping Border Patrol and
vindictive gang members, Sayra and Willy grow close as they emigrate to the
land of hope and plenty.
Entertainment in the Misfortune of Others
Although the plot intrigues, what really rattled me while
watching Sin Nombre was the
disconnect between my life and the lives of these characters. Most evidently,
despite my fears regarding my economic standing, I have a roof over my head,
food always a moment away from my belly, and the continual hope for job
prospects.
In contrast, both characters possess little. For them, the idea of opulence is access to America and a minimum wage job. The difference is most evident in the scene where the characters dreamingly long for the possibility of flight—a phenomenon most individuals in our culture take for granted.
In contrast, both characters possess little. For them, the idea of opulence is access to America and a minimum wage job. The difference is most evident in the scene where the characters dreamingly long for the possibility of flight—a phenomenon most individuals in our culture take for granted.
Sin Nombre
provides compelling cinema not only through a pulse-racing plot, but also by
its socio-economic implications. Those in the middle class too often get caught
in the rat race comparing their lifestyles to those in higher classes. Yet in
truth, the middle class is highly luxurious to the rest of the world.
Of course, watching a movie like Sin Nombre offers the danger of complacency in thinking “at least our situation is not as bad as theirs.” But I believe Sin Nombre is well worth watching to be reminded of the perils in the developing world and hopefully it urges you to consider ways in which we can make a difference.
Of course, watching a movie like Sin Nombre offers the danger of complacency in thinking “at least our situation is not as bad as theirs.” But I believe Sin Nombre is well worth watching to be reminded of the perils in the developing world and hopefully it urges you to consider ways in which we can make a difference.
Verdict: 3.5 out
of 5
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Posted by: Donovan Richards
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