source: Alambrista!

It's surprising how "Alambrista!" has slipped into near-total oblivion after being shown at Cannes and receiving some measure of admiration there. But it seems to have never enjoyed a release on VHS, and hasn't appeared on DVD until quite recently. It's a shame, because this film serves as a very piercing, close-up examination of the life of an illegal immigrant. Robert M. Young has made a number of daring and unusual films in his career, off-center stories with characters most people wouldn't notice. In "Short Eyes" it was a young pedophile in prison, and in "Dominick and Eugene" he focused on the everyday life of a mentally retarded man. Here, he takes a deep trip into the underbelly of American society, a side most of us will never come close to seeing. "Alambrista!" is a basic tale, one that Young penned himself (it was the only film he'd ever both write and direct). It's uncomplicated, but not untrue. There's a familiar 1970s documentary approach, up close and personal, and it serves things well. Also doing his own cinematography, Young is very much in on the action. Domingo Ambriz plays Roberto, a quiet and not entirely bright Mexican man. He's very kind, but completely innocent of cities and American life. It's a heartfelt performance, and it has to be. Everything hinges on his believability. Linda Gillen is very good as the waitress Sharon, also a rather innocent personality. The characters come almost secondary, because we don't get too far beneath their skin. This isn't an internal, mental film - it's a silent observation of things. Take a close look.

Also released as The Illegal, Alambrista! (which actually translates as tightrope walker) relates the story of a Mexican man who emigrates to the U.S. in order to make a better life for his family south of the border. Domingo Ambriz delivers a flawless performance as Roberto, who hopes that Yankee dollars will enable him to provide for his wife and new child but quickly learns that he's just a tool in the hands of coyotes (one of whom is played by Ned Beatty) and employers alike. He meets a friendly American waitress (winsome Linda Gillen), gets taken to an evangelical church service, and eats LOTS of ham and eggs before he decides life was better back home. Directed by Robert M. Young (not the actor, but the helmer of the equally excellent Short Eyes), Alambrista! won the Golden Camera at Cannes in 1977, but quickly sank into oblivion thereafter. That's understandable considering it's a sympathetic take on one of America's favorite whipping boys, but the film comes highly recommended for those willing to overlook the protagonist's disdain for federal immigration laws. One to avoid for the Tom Tancredo crowd.

After the birth of his first child, Roberto, a young Mexican man slips across the border into the United States. Seeking work to support his family back home, he finds that working hard is not enough. I wish I could recall the name of another film I watched not too long ago about the immigrant experience of crossing the border and trying to find work in America. While different, the two make a good pair and a thorough analysis comparing and contrasting them would make for a great essay. One of the more interesting things about this is how smoothly things go, for the most part. Yes, there is an incident in the junkyard concerning bad food, but one of the first Americans encountered goes out of her way to help the man despite knowing almost no Spanish at all.

"Alambrista" is a groundbreaking film about a man's decision to move to United States and leave everything that he has behind to start a new life in the pursuit of the American Dream. In this new land, he learns that the American Dream is not easily acquired and maybe and impossibility to attain for some, and he is forced to make some tough choices. I liked this film because the directing is great and the mis-en-scene and the characters are strikingly realistic. The message at the end of the film is one of hope that there is a brighter future, in due time, for new immigrants,

It is difficult to talk about this movie without getting political, but maybe that's the point? Not sure, anyways, there were a few very powerful moments in the film for me. The most common point of discomfort was the multiple times Roberto had all of his choices, and thereby his freedoms, taken away. He had a vision for what he wanted out of America, and it was uncomfortable to watch his version of how he wanted his life to go be shattered by the unforgiving reality of how undocumented workers are treated. Perhaps the thing that struck me the hardest, however, was how quickly life changed. There were a few times throughout the movie where, without warning, Roberto's life was drastically altered. I was aware of the fact that this type of thing happens, but seeing it played out was emotionally exhausting, I can't imagine what it must be like to live it. I really hope this film gets rediscovered. It's a seemingly very brutal and honest portrayal of the very difficult decisions and sacrifices migrant workers have to make.

The film won the Golden Camera Award at the 31st Cannes Film Festival. Quite witty and interesting realistic record style, a Mexican illegal immigrants stay cute course, the dramatic end of the stumbling finally returned. The close-up shot of the whole process is quite interesting with the innocent performance of the protagonist and the relaxed and cheerful music.

Excellent film about the experiences of a Mexican migrant worker (Domingo Ambriz). Shot in a very authentic documentary style, it follows Ambriz's fleeting experiences. In the blink of an eye, the man's life changes, and he has no choice but just to go along with wherever the wind takes him. One moment he's traveling across the country with his buddy (Trinidad Salva), the next moment his friend's gone forever. One moment he's involved with a single mother (Linda Gillen), the next moment he's being transported back to Mexico by Immigration officers. This was director Young's first film, made for PBS. IMDb actually lists his Short Eyes, which is an even better film (a masterpiece, in my opinion), as having come out first. Young re-edited the film into a director's cut in 2001, actually shortening it by about 15 minutes. That's the version presented by Criterion on their new edition. It's an unearthed gem.

I saw this in Sociology class at the University of San Francisco. Outstanding narrative of a poor young man who simply wants to support his family. What's refreshing and quite funny is the depiction of some of the most bizarre aspects of American life. The scene where the lead attends a tent revival and witnesses some of the members heaving and pitching on the floor is hilarious. What I appreciated most about this film was the film's statement that many white Americans need to deal with much the same insecurity and yearnings as do their Mexican brethren. Capitalism's most brutal aspects are laid bare and it doesn't matter who is in way if profit is to be collected. Highly recommend this to anyone who is fed up with the moronic fare of current Hollywood films...

source: Alambrista!