El Norte

El Norte follows Rosa and Enrique Xuncax, young Guatemalan siblings who flee their village after their father is killed by military forces. They make a dangerous journey through Mexico and illegally cross into the United States, hoping to find freedom and opportunity. The film powerfully explores themes of displacement, identity, sacrifice, and the harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants chasing a better life.

• Gregory Nava directed the film on a shoestring budget.
• The film was shot in Mexico, California, and Texas.
• It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
• The title 'El Norte' simply means 'The North' in Spanish.
• PBS aired the film as part of its American Playhouse series.

• In our own land, we have no home. And in the North, we are foreigners.
• We're not birds. We can't fly up into the sky and be free.
• In this country, people are not poor because they are lazy.
• To them, we are just a pair of arms. Nothing more.
• We struggled so hard to get here, and for what?