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Product Description
From executive producers Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna comes Sin Nombre, the breathtaking debut thriller from writer/director Cary Fukunaga. An unflinching tale of loyalty and redemption set against the harsh backdrop of modern Mexico, Sin Nombre interweaves two parallel stories; the first dealing the struggles of Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), a beautiful Honduran woman desperately trying to escape to America with her family, the second following Casper (Edgar Flores), a tough gang member placed in an impossible situation when a violent retaliation turns his gang against him. As Sayra and Casper s paths cross on a train leading out of the country, with the gang in hot pursuit, they must rely on each other if any of them are to make it through alive. Recipient of the Best Director and Best Cinematography Awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and the Skillset New Director's Award at the 2009 Edinburgh Film Festival, Sin Nombre marks the emergence of a startling new voice in Latin American cinema.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By Will3008
Format:DVD
I saw this film in the cinema late in August and it was absolutely brilliant. It has all the hallmarks of a good film and is a thriller, gangster film and travel movie all at the same time. Especially interesting if you are interested in the contemporary issue of the mass, illegal immigration into the United states from Central America - it opens a revealing window onto the plight of the migrants trying to make the journey towards the States; a journey riddled with danger which only a few will complete. This film is in competition with 'the motorcycle diaries` to be my favourite Latin American film, and if I had to pick one of the two, it would be this. Buy it, you will not be disappointed. (Please read on)
Ok this a whole year later, after I have bought the DVD and re-watched the film. It is still bloody good - especially considering the low budget it was filmed on - and I would not alter my above comments. However, the film will not have the same effect on you second time around - it is not one of those that gets better every time you re-watch it. The reason for this is that it is a visceral one-hit impact film - it grabs you because you do not know what is going to happen, rather than because of a well crafted storyline. Watching it again, once you know what is going to happen, the film loses its thrilling feel and leaves you with not a lot else in the way of variation (most of the film takes place on a train).
However, this is obviously a comment made after a second viewing (I loved it first time around) and you definitely have to see this film. There ARE some expert scenes, such as the tour of the hideout of the 'Mara Salvatrucha' gang amonst others. Watch it and you will love it. Watch it second time and you will see my retrospective criticism.
Ok this a whole year later, after I have bought the DVD and re-watched the film. It is still bloody good - especially considering the low budget it was filmed on - and I would not alter my above comments. However, the film will not have the same effect on you second time around - it is not one of those that gets better every time you re-watch it. The reason for this is that it is a visceral one-hit impact film - it grabs you because you do not know what is going to happen, rather than because of a well crafted storyline. Watching it again, once you know what is going to happen, the film loses its thrilling feel and leaves you with not a lot else in the way of variation (most of the film takes place on a train).
However, this is obviously a comment made after a second viewing (I loved it first time around) and you definitely have to see this film. There ARE some expert scenes, such as the tour of the hideout of the 'Mara Salvatrucha' gang amonst others. Watch it and you will love it. Watch it second time and you will see my retrospective criticism.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'm going to resist giving this film 5 stars, although I couldn't argue if you think it deserves it. I was very good. Inevitably it will draw comparisons with 'City of God' and 'Elite Squad', but in my eyes it wasn't as good - hence 4 stars.
That's not to say it wasn't still very good though - it was. We basically follow two threads of a story that intertwine halfway through and lead up to the films final events.
MS13, the notorious Latin American street gang, feature heavily in this film, but ultimately, that is not really what this film is about. There is much more to it than that and to group in it with such films would do it an injustice.
The film itself is both beautiful (the South American scenery) and brutal (the depiction of gang life is unflinching) in equal measures and fans of films about both gang culture and South American culture will lap it up.
I myself thoroughly enjoyed the journey (quite literally) from start to finish and Sin Nombre cleverly addressed two issues synonimous with Latin America (immigration & gang culture) in a way that was incidental rather than the focus of the film - the result was quite spectacular and something you're sure to love.
That's not to say it wasn't still very good though - it was. We basically follow two threads of a story that intertwine halfway through and lead up to the films final events.
MS13, the notorious Latin American street gang, feature heavily in this film, but ultimately, that is not really what this film is about. There is much more to it than that and to group in it with such films would do it an injustice.
The film itself is both beautiful (the South American scenery) and brutal (the depiction of gang life is unflinching) in equal measures and fans of films about both gang culture and South American culture will lap it up.
I myself thoroughly enjoyed the journey (quite literally) from start to finish and Sin Nombre cleverly addressed two issues synonimous with Latin America (immigration & gang culture) in a way that was incidental rather than the focus of the film - the result was quite spectacular and something you're sure to love.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Gail
Format:DVD
My fav movie of 2009 by a country mile. Breathtaking combination of gangster genre film, romance, adventure, action and a glimpse into a fascinating world. Un-missable.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully Stunning Visuals With A Simple But Touching Story
It may be set in one of the most poverty stricken places of the world but there is so much colour and vibrancy that create some stunning visuals. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr Blonde
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This film is so sad, a criminal who as a good heart and helps a young girl get across the border to the USA.
Published 2 months ago by saf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sin Nombre
a beautiful brutal and stunning film. Deep issues of gangs and immigration are given full merit and treatment- it is a harsh brutal world that Sarya and Caspar inhabit- the journey... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paul Cornell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Makes you think
No matter where in the world you are, this story could refer to a scene that is played out on many stages. Read more
Published 9 months ago by D
5.0 out of 5 stars
Es Bueno
Hola como estas
Amigos El pelicula muy excelente, amor el Espanol, ver este. Muy interesante y muchos de accion, el espanol haces bueno peliculas y cuando usted ver... Read more
Amigos El pelicula muy excelente, amor el Espanol, ver este. Muy interesante y muchos de accion, el espanol haces bueno peliculas y cuando usted ver... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Chico
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly suprised
Well unfortunately for this film, I was expecting so little that perhaps it started with -5 stars and had to win them back before it could gain any positives. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ihaterain
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tough, raw and poignant - slow but rewarding World Cinema
A unique movie, telling the story of Sayra, a girl desperate to emigrate from Honduras and see her estranged father again, and Casper a young boy being raised into a tough gang... Read more
Published 22 months ago by T. BROOKES
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hop a freight. Ride the rails. Keep your guard up.
This film is a mixed bag. It's about illegal border-crossing, about teenage love and betrayal, and also about gang culture and crime networks. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2011 by Philoctetes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the fainthearted
This is an excellent film as one would expect with Gael Garcia Bernal being one of the executive producers; but be warned it is a tough film and not for the squeamish or... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2011 by jkslouth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple Plot - Well Acted and Directed
I thoroughly enjoyed this film as it is one that gets you totally involved in the story and the characters. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2011 by Mr. S. P. Walshe
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