Sin Nombre

Yet more evidence for the quality of contemporary Mexican filmmaking and another reminder, if any were needed, of the dreadful quality of most American films that clog up our screens. While not by any means particularly original, Sin Nomber nevertheless tells its story with verve and compassion. Most of the audience will guess the fate of one of the characters early on while fervently hoping that they are wrong. From the beginning it's clear that the paths of the Honduran family heading North and the Mexican gang will collide at some point. Two totally different "families" with entirely different values, and in normal circumstances only one would win. This time, however, there's a wild card in the form of Casper, a member of the gang and therefore a killer, but one with some remaining shreds of decency. When history seems to be repeating itself, he reacts in a way that irrevocably breaks all ties with his past. We suspect he won't be able to change his own fate but he can certainly influence that of the Hondurans.
If nothing else, like In This World and Ghosts, Sin Nombre illustrates the difficulties and dangers for those seeking to illegally cross borders. Some people throw food up to the Hondurans travelling on the roof of the train; others throw rocks at them and hurl abuse. They are preyed upon y criminal gangs and at any moment they could be picked up by the border patrol. Failure doesn't deter them (Sayra's father has already been deported once and, at the end, her uncle is embarking on another attempt) though death is the end of the journey for some.