SIN NOMBRE

Mexico, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Paulina Gaitan, Edgar Flores, Kristyan Ferrer, Luis Fernando Pena, Tenoch Huerta Mejia.
Directed by Carey Fukunaga.

An impressive and disturbing film.

The writer-director, for his first feature film, lived amongst the migrants from Honduras and Mexico who would become the 'illegals' in the United States. He experienced their backgrounds, their hardships and poverty as well as the dangers that they encountered along the way from the Honduran border to the Mexican/US border, not only the patrols but also the vicious gangs who would rob and assault them (with even Mexicans throwing rocks at the passing Hondurans telling them they were not welcome in their country). He rode the roofs of the trains with them.

And that is what he wants to communicate to his audience – and he does so successfully.

Sin Nombre means 'Without a name' or 'Nameless'. This refers to the migrants. The gang members have more than one name, their personal name but, more valued, the nickname, code name, that they receive after going through some fierce initiation rites (being kicked brutally by the gang for 13 seconds to prove their toughness, killing a member from a rival gang and being tattooed, or really, branded.

The director immerses us in the life of the Mara, a powerful gang with tentacles as far as LA. Willy (real name) who is Caspar (code name) draws a 12 year old, Benito, who becomes Smiley, into the gang. It is his initiation we watch with alarm. In the meantime we see a young woman in Honduras who is persuaded to accompany her father and uncle to go to New Jersey.

At the border, the two stories come together. Willy has been dismayed by the actions of the leader of the gang and there is a confrontation which puts Willy on the run, pursued by gang members, especially Smiley who is ordered to kill Willy.

This part of the film takes the audience with the migrants, often on the top of huge goods trains lumbering through the often beautiful Mexican country side. Some of the long shot vistas of the trains are quite magnificent, especially with the crowd of people squatting on the roofs of the carriages.

The fate of many of the characters is grim. There are some touches of hope but prospects for most of them are dismal whether they die on the way to the US, are deported to Honduras from Mexico, are robbed or raped during their journey or are trapped in the vicious loyalty to the gang.

We have come to expect powerfully made films from Latin America about gangs and violence (City of God, City of Men, The Lower City). The characters are not only well drawn but they have a depth, even an interiority about them which means that the film makes a stronger impact emotionally. As well, there is much food for thought about the migration issues in the Americas. Sundance Festival winner for direction and for photography.

1.The impact of the film, as drama, as reality? As moral issues?

2.The title, the references to the migrants, the nameless? The contrast with the members of the Mara gang, with their new names, code names?

3.The Mexican and Honduras locations, the atmosphere of Central America? The landscapes, the mountains, the countryside? The villages, the bigger towns, the highways? The rails? The slums, poverty? The river and the American border? The contrast with the affluent American town?

4.The two-strand structure, the Honduran migrants, the gang members in Mexico? The strands coming together at the border town? Decisions, action? The consequences of decisions – leading to tragedy? Fate or destiny?

5.Casper/ Willy? His arriving at Benito’s house, the attack from the grandmother? Taking Benito to the gang, to the chief, Lil Mago? The sudden bashing and kicking of Benito? The initiation rite with Casper joining in? Giving him a new name: El Smiley? The demand that he kill one of the enemy? Giving him the pipe gun? Setting up the prisoner, El Smiley killing him?

6.Lil Mago as leader, like a cult leader, his power and influence, mesmerising? The variety of members of the club, going into the club itself, a dive? Their clothes, the abundant tattoos? Their way of life, loyalties? Spreading throughout the Mexican countryside? To Los Angeles? Their enemies? Their crime – and robbing the migrants?

7.Willy and his love for Marthe? Their relationship, taking Smiley along? His lies about this to Lil Mago? Lil Mago accusing him? Bringing the girl to the compound, Lil Mago attacking her, shoving her to the ground, her hitting her head, her death? His rationalising the situation to Willy? Willy and his tears and grief? The consequences?

8.The Hondurans, Sayra and her age, family, with her uncle, the alienation from her father, his new family in New Jersey? Her life, the opportunities, her defiance, her being persuaded to travel to the United States? Their getting to the border? The Mexican reaction?

9.The migrants, the big group, families, in the hostels, on the move, getting the train, on top of the train, the vistas of the train with the people on the roofs? The possibility of falling between the carriages and dying? The rain, the tarpaulin covers? The criminals, robbery, attempted rape? The migrants and their perseverance? Getting on and off the train? The threat of the border patrols? Running around the town streets to circumvent them?

10.The gang, the mission, robbing the migrants? Lil Mago taking Casper and Smiley? The brutality, taking the money? Sayra, Lil Mago’s attack, the attempted rape? Willy and his suddenly killing him? His decision to stay on the train, the initial hostility of the people, their accepting him? Sayra helping him, talking with him, offering him food? His giving them advice, accompanying them, running around the town to avoid the border patrol? The hostel? Sayra and her warm response, gratitude towards him? His saying that he was a dead man and that there was no future in her being with him?

11.Smiley, the experience of the killing, going back, reporting to the new leader, his fear? El Sol taking the leadership? Revenge, the group and their grief? The squads, the pursuit, by car, ambushing the train, not finding Willy? Getting onto the train, the chase? Willy and Sayra getting off, the help from the woman at the café, the woman telling the gang? Smiley commissioned to kill Willy, his boasting to the other little kids?

12.Sayra leaving the train, following Willy after he departed? Her father’s death between the carriages? Her uncle being deported? At the café, the woman hiding them in the car, the gang searching – but their having got away?

13.Willy paying for them to cross the river? The man wanting the money, greed? Sayra in midstream when the gang found Willy, Willy and the chase, Smiley confronting him, killing him?

14.Sayra, going to the US, seeing the affluent town? Phoning the family in New Jersey, having memorised the number? Her future?

15.The issues of Central America, poverty, social concern, crime? The migrants and their plight? Illegals in the US?