Director: Rigoberto Perezcano
2009, Mexico, 95 min.
Perezcano’s debut feature film is the account of one man’s determination to win a better life for his family by crossing into the U.S. Norteado offers a uniquely sensitive look at the emotional divide between those who leave and those who stay behind. Andres is a young Oaxacan, who like countless others before him hires a ‘coyote’ to help him cross the border. He’s inevitably conned and left stranded and penniless in Tijuana. Befriended by convenience store owner Ela, her friend Asensio, and her employee Cata, Andres is drawn into complicated romantic triangles as he waits for an opportunity to cross. With little dialogue, this non-exploitative film is filled with kindness, humor and dignity. As the four main characters reveal their backgrounds, their differences are superseded by their growing friendship. A very human look at the phenomenon of border crossing.
