Sin Nombre
Review - Matt Mungle
Cary Fukunaga's feature length writing and directing debut "Sin Nombre" shows creative depth, styling and emotion more than most projects by seasoned film makers. Cary submerges the viewer into the Mexican gang world in a movie that many times feels more like a stark documentary than a fictional tale. But at the core it is as beautiful as it is brutal. A story that will touch your soul with its portrayal of the human search for freedom.
El Casper (Edgar Flores) is an older teen struggling with his loyalty to the Mexican gang he once thought of as family. He encounters a young girl named Sayra (Paulina Gaitan) who is illegally making her way to America with her father to start a new life. Their journey together becomes one of salvation and survival as she tries to stay a step ahead of immigration and Casper a step ahead of the gang trying to seek vengeance. Their friendship is a touching expression that at the heart of everyone is the passion for life invested in another. They each long to help the other reach their destination even if it means sacrificing their own. As the film states, "the greatest sin of all is risking nothing".
When talking to Fukunaga you hear the passion he had for creating a story that was true in its form and factual in its character development. Cary explains, "in writing the script a lot of my work was sort of doing passes for each character and really developing their arc. Making sure that each scene existed for the purpose of advancing the story or the emotional journey of the characters."
The gang members, though actors, give the impression of a life lived in this world. More than once I lost myself in their performances. It truly was as if I was initiated into their lifestyle simply by observing. Fukunaga talked about how he achieved this, "It entailed interviewing immigrants or groups that work with immigrants, police and going into the prisons to interview gang members to ascertain what role they play in this world. The newspapers would always say they were involved in immigration but I could never figure out how since they weren't actually smuggling. So it took me a long time to get to the truth because it is really hard to get them to talk about how they make their money. I spent about two years with a small group of them in order to whittle down the group to a few I felt where the most honest. The contacts I had with the gangs where extremely helpful being copy editors as well. We would bring them the Spanish versions of these gang scenes and they would fix it."
Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content it is adult in its themes and imagery. Yet nothing is wasted or added simply for shock value. Each movement and spoken word is essential to the overall package. This film stayed with me for hours after viewing. I found my emotions so awakened that to simply move on after leaving the theater was not an easy process. Sadly this film will be looked over by some as mere violent sensationalism or another foreign film that is non relatable. But to do so is to miss one of the truly better films to emerge in some time and especially from a fresh face. I give Sin Nombre 5 out of 5 stars. Be sure and check your local art house theaters and make every effort to view this incredible film. |
