Review of Paraiso Travel (2008) by Doug B — 28 Nov 2009
Apparently this movie broke box-office records in Colombia and I can see why- because its very good! A gritty, raw, REAL, as real as cancer look into the lives of immigrants wanting to escape their miserable lives and come to United States of America.
Simon Brand, the director, did a terrific job in this adapation from Jorge Franco's novel. Paraiso Travel tells the story of Marlon Cruz, a good looking and young Colombian man who motivated by his unscrupulous and insensitive g/f Reina leaves his life in Medellin Colombia to illegaly cross the border and find fortune in New York.
The movie starts with the pair of young lovers in New York but during the film you see flashbacks of their perilous journey from Colombia to Guatemala, Mexico and finally to USA. So you see present, past, present, past etc.
..good technique. Marlon's journey which takes him through seedy strip clubs, dance halls, homeless hostels, and the streets of Jackson Heights ultimately leads him to a place he could never have predicted.
This kid got lucky to be alive and to make it in one piece to NY but he gets lost from Reina and so he must fend for himself..This movie won several awards among them: 2008 Jury Award best film Los Angeles Latino Int Film Festival, Audience Award favorite foreign feature Ft Lauderdale Int Film festival 2008, Audience Award Jacksonville Film Festival, and Audience Award narrative feature San Francisco Bay area International Latino film festival 2008.
My final thoughts- NEVER, AND I REPEAT NEVER TAKE YOUR CITIZENSHIP FOR GRANTED! GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!! RECOMMENDED!
This review of Paraiso Travel (2008) was written by Doug B on 28 Nov 2009.
Paraiso Travel has generally received positive reviews.
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