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El Norte (18*)

Borders and Boundaries

,Barbican Cinema 3
man and woman on poster image in front of moon and dark sky

Two Guatemalan siblings escape the civil war and attempt to make the dangerous journey to the US, via Mexico, in Gregory Nava’s Oscar-nominated epic.

After a bloody massacre, Brother and sister Enrique and Rosa make the difficult decision to leave their home and head north, to start a new life in the US. Despite the dangers and hardships they face, the pair continue their journey to Tijuana, where they are forced to take terrifying risks.

El Norte was one of the first productions to focus on the challenges facing Latin American migrants hoping to cross the border in to the US. The two protagonists are depicted with great dignity and solidarity, and, tragically, this masterly film, newly restored, has never been more relevant.

Tagged with: Cinema Borders and Boundaries 2019

USA 1984 Dir Gregory Nava 141 min

  • ‘ It tells its story through the eyes of its heroes, and it is one of the rare films that grants Latin Americans full humanity. They are not condescended to [...] they are simply themselves.‘
    Roger Ebert, rogerebert.com
  • ‘ When I made El Norte, I showed the bad things along with good things. Forget about stereotypes; forget about everything. Just say: This is the story, and I’m going to tell the truth.‘
    Gregory Nava (Director), Vanity Fair
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ScreenNotes

Barbican Cinema 3

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.