magonzalez-15762 Sin Nombre was a very interesting film to watch. I haven't viewed many foreign films before, but I found this one very compelling. I thought all of the actors did a great job, and I loved how some of the characters weren't even actors. I was confused a little during the story. They never explained why Sayra, a Honduran girl who is fleeing to America with her family, makes the journey. I know that most immigrants who journey to America do so to find a better life, but the movie never explained if Sayra even had a bad life. Overall, I thought that it was a phenomenal movie, and even though I do not speak Spanish, I could clearly understand what everyone was saying. It was a powerful movie and I recommend it. It is not for the faint of heart though, but the story is so compelling it just makes you want to continue watching.

logatherum Since I am immersed in American culture and society, I almost never watch international films, as I have never really taken the interest in doing so, or even had an opportunity to. This film is really the first international film I have ever seen, and I am glad I watched it. I enjoyed the film overall for a lot of reasons. I thought it was interesting how the viewer is forced to feel sympathy for immigrants when watching, as it shows the reality and how sad this struggle is for people like Sayra and Casper. I think that usually in American movies, immigrants are portrayed as very tough and criminal, and you assume that ALL immigrants are involved with drugs and gangs, which is NOT true, and this film really showed just how emotional the journey is for them. In contrast, in this film, you get a chance to know the characters and really understand that they are people struggling, but only in a different way than us, and we are NOT any better than them. I also liked the bond between Sayra and Casper, and for me, when Casper was shot and killed (by a little boy)! I really felt burdened by the utter sadness and loneliness Sayra was left in, when she was sobbing in the water, surrounded by violence. Although there was chaos around her, it was interesting that she found a secluded, shady place under a tree/ bush where the water was still and calm to completely break down into hysterics, and I think the irony of that made it all the more real and emotional. I think that American movies often have a happy ending to them, and are expected to by Americans. However, I appreciate how in this international film, the ending is NOT happy, and it is overall a very serious and upsetting movie, which, I think, that if it were American, it would be less emotionally heavy, more comical, and end happily, with probably not as many or no deaths at all. However, this is not usually how reality is, and it was for sure a different perspective for me to see, and I would not change the ending. If you were in the shoes of a Mexican immigrant traveling alone, would you join a gang if given the chance if it meant you could potentially keep you safer?Do you prefer the stereotypical "American happy ending" or a more realistic ending like in this film?

tadegeare I really enjoyed watching this film because it was intense and realistic. The fact that the entire movie was in subtitles didn't even bother me. It was easy to follow what was going on and why things were happening. Some indications that showed that this film is not American would be that the main character was killed of in the end. The former friend of Willy, Smiley, was the one to kill him and in an American film this would not have happened. Willy would have ended up with the girl and gotten to New Jersey. Also the movie was mainly about getting across the border which wouldn't be the focus of an American movie. I think that as an American myself I would've had Smiley join Willy and Sarya to escape the gang and in turn have a happy ending but overall I really enjoyed the movie.

timothy_480 Story/Pacing: This story feels very original and real. When it comes down to it, this film is following opposites who slowly become attracted to one another but it is told from a unique perspective making the film feel really genuine and authentic. The film evokes many emotions without thrusting clichés and corny metaphors in front of you and it also keeps moving at a steady pace. The violence is at times brutal but thats mostly due to its context as opposed to the physical actions on screen. The only downside is that several of the minor characters are just not developed enough despite being in the first two acts of the film and acquiring the viewers interests. Acting: Exceptional and never an unconvincing moment. Sayra and El Casper have believable chemistry while the gang leaders are chillingly evil but the best actor is Kristyan Ferrer who plays El Smiley. You feel his pain, his anger, his happiness and the young actor does it all without breaking a sweat.Technically/Music: Simplicity certainly works for this film. Overall the film looks somewhat like a documentary and the music accompanying the visuals is subtle. This only adds to the film's authenticity and allows the story and the characters to keep the viewers interested. Overall, the film is very entertaining, original and emotional and feels very real. Its a film that survives on its plot as opposed to technical capabilities and at just over 90 minutes its a fast paced easy movie.