Review of El Norte (1983) by Daniel K — 16 Feb 2009

I knew essentially nothing about this picture before seeing it other than it was released by Criterion. That was reason enough for me to purchase and watch it. It looks remarkably good on Blu-Ray considering the circumstances in which it was filmed.

The "making of" documentary is pretty fascinating as well. It was nothing if not an independent production. The picture does have the ring of authenticity. This is due in large part to the quality of the casting and the location shooting.

It is not a terribly pleasant story and one pretty much knows exactly where it is heading the entire time, but this doesn't make it any less watchable. One merely watches with an impending sense of dread as one knows all along that their dreams will eventually be shattered.

After watching the "making of" feature it is clear that much of the visual inventiveness and beauty must be credited to cinematographer James Glennon. He is apparently the person responsible for filming the various shots of extra-narrative objects (like the animals, the landscapes, the moon/sun, etc).

Granted, the editors and filmmakers used this footage appropriately and to great effect, but it would not have been available to them if Glennon had not chosen to point the camera in that direction. The picture is less effective today than I imagine it was upon its release.

It is also less relevant to me as I have been personally effected very little by immigrants from Latin and Central America. Still, it is very well done even if the rat attack scene is pretty ridiculous.