On DVD: SIN NOMBRE (Cary Fukunaga, 2009)

In the grand tradition of Fernando Meirelles's City Of God and Alejandro González Iñárritu's Amores Perros comes another Latin-flavored gang crime flick in the form of Sin Nombre, directed by an American of Japanese ancestry. Who knew.

It's about the parallel tales of El Casper (Edgar Flores) and Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), who's lives will converge on a train heading to America. Casper is part of the violent and heavily tattooed Mara gang in Mexico, and after committing a murder against one of his own (the murder is justified, however), he goes on the run. Meanwhile, Sayra and her family are illegal immigrants who are heading to America on the train. Casper eventually hops aboard that train, and a relationship blossoms between the two.

I really enjoyed this film. The acting, especially that of the young Gaitan, is something to be lauded, and the film was handled with such delicate hands in the form of Cary Fukunaga. It also runs at a cool, brisk 96 minutes, making it just the right length to take us on this journey.

At time violent and other times very touching, Sin Nombre is enhanced by a quality story in something that isn't handled in a shining light, that of the illegal immigration conflict. It doesn't center on that issue so much, as it centers on the people that endure this, and making them completely likable.

I also enjoyed the beautiful photography by Adriano Goldman, incorporating quality scenic landscapes and mixing that shit UP with some taut handheld camera. I usually get tired of the overuse of handheld camera these days, but Fukunaga and Goldman get so much beauty out of the frames that I couldn't complain.

What makes this movie even more special is that this id Fukunaga's feature-length debut, which proves that you should watch out for this guy, as he's probably got a lot more up his sleeve. With Sin Nombre, he's created a very interesting world and filled it with interesting characters. I kinda wish it ran a little longer, because at times I was so hooked with these characters.

BOTTOM LINE: Sin Nombre is a very special movie and a very promising debut. Great sequences, acting, characters and photography can keep any viewer interested throughout.
Buy Sin Nombre On DVD.