Sin Nombre Review: 8.5/10

The immense success of a movie like “Slumdog Millionaire” has proven that Americans MAY be in fact straying from their xenophobic fear of subtitles. While “Slumdog” was hardly a true foreign film, it was fresh and foreign enough to put Bollywood and Indian films on the map of anyone who was lucky enough to see the film.

It is my hope that this momentum enables people to step out of their comfort zone and see a movie like “Sin Nombre.” OK, so the film has subtitles. Those who can break out of their mainstream “Iron Man” blockbuster mind state and engage their mind will be subjected to a truly unique experience and one that will both educate and entertain like few movies can.

Image via Canana Films

“Sin Nombre” adopts the rather popular parallel narrative structure introducing us to Casper, a.k.a. Willy (Edgar Flores) who is breaking in a new recruit, a disturbingly young boy named Smiley, to his brutal gang. The gang is the regulating force in the ghetto of Tapachula, Mexico. Meanwhile, in Honduras, teenage Sayra (Paulina Gaitan) decides to emigrate to America with her estranged father in hopes of a better life. The two stories collide after an act of unflinching violence leaves Willy wanted for dead by his gang.

I could tell you more about the story but reading it in a review is a poor substitute for seeing the events unfold on screen. From here on out, the story covers a wide array of human emotions from fear to love and pretty everything in between. The story, while becoming a bit cumbersome and slow in the 3rd act, remains intriguing and never becomes predictable.

Image via Canana Films

“Sin Nombre” is a film that has truly impressive technical prowess. Cinematography, editing, sound design and direction are all top notch and the mix of trained actors and real, actual locals adds an important dash of authenticity and realism. Director Cary Joji Fukunaga takes us hand in hand to experience the true realities of life in a third world country. While I am not sure if Fukunaga experienced any of what goes on in “Sin Nombre” himself, it sure as hell seems so. The movie retains a highly realistic, personalized touch that only a well researched director can execute. The beauty of the surroundings is juxtaposed to the unrelenting poverty of the area, a picture that burns a hole in your consciousness as we realize that this is not just a film.

Those looking to build off of their “Slumdog” foreign film-high should note that “Sin Nombre” is a far tougher pill to swallow. There are no musical numbers or long shot romances here, just the brutal reality of life south of the border. “Sin Nombre” is an intense exercise in storytelling that takes us to a place few even know about and, while the results aren’t always pretty, they remain consistently eye opening.