El Norte Essay

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El Norte Wayne Snowbird There are many different views and beliefs regarding immigration to the United States of America. The film El Norte provides an accurate and realistic representation of two siblings, Enrique and Rosa, and their immigration from Guatemala to the United States of America. Although El Norte represents a specific situation in Guatemala, there are many aspects and themes that directly relate to immigration in general. The violence as a result of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996), specifically the increase in insurgency and repression from 1981 to 1983, forced Enrique and Rosa to immigrate to the United States of America. I’d like to mainly focus this essay on the first of the three parts of the film titled: Arturo Xuncax. Many immigrants do not want to immigrate to The United States of America, but external entities force them to. Immigrating to America is not necessarily what immigrant’s desire; however, it may be the only option other than inevitable death. El Norte tells the story of two immigrants, Enrique and Rosa, from their perspective. The Guatemalan Civil War saw an increase of violence due to an increase in insurgency and repression. Regular civilians were directly impacted by this increase in violence. Although civilians, neither rebel or government, had little to do with the war, it forced them to leave their home and immigrate to America. After Enrique and Rosa’s father is murdered during a meeting to organize and protest for labor rights, and their mother disappears (assumed to be murdered as well), decide that in order to save their own lives, must leave their beloved town to immigrate to America. Along the road they find some that are willing to help, and others that just want to rob them of the small amount of money that they have. After an unsuccessful attempt to cross the border when a Coyote robs them, a family

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