Every year,perhaps thousands of Mexicans attempt to escape Mexico for various reasons to make a good life in "El Norte" (America). Some succeed,others fail. This has made for a number of quality films over the years. 'Norteado' is another prime addition to that ever growing collection of said,such films. Andres (played here by Harold Torres)is from the south of Mexico,with the same dream of escaping his dirt poor existence in Oaxaca. After he tries twice to make it over the border to America,only to be caught by the border patrol & sent back to Mexico, Andres finds himself in Tijuana. Andres is taken in by a kindly,middle aged woman,Ela (played by Alice Laguna),who operates a small grocery shop with another woman,Cata (Sonia Couoh),who is unfriendly & cynical of Andres,to work in the store. After a time,pretensions melt away,and the three manage to bond a somewhat tentative friendship. Ela's close friend (and potential lover),Don Arsensio (Luis Cardenas)has a bad vibe toward Andres (possibly viewing him as a rival for Ela's affections),but eventually agrees to help Andres cross over the border to America (perhaps to get rid of him for good,so he can have Ela all to himself). This is a story of lonely people somehow trying to come together,in the face of adversity (in one way or another). Rigoberto Perezcanto ('XV en Zaachila') directs from a screenplay written by Edgar SanJuan & Perezcanto. The film's cinematography is by Alejandro Cantu,which goes for a "kitchen sink" look that works well. Spoken in Spanish with English subtitles. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains a few brief outbursts of strong language,a flash of brief nudity,much smoking & drinking & some rather disturbing images of cock fighting that may upset some.
