El Norte
Year:
1983
Production Country:
Great Britain / USA
A brother and sister flee from Guatemala after the 1982 coup, during which their father is murdered and their mother imprisoned. They are smuggled over the Mexican border into America at Tijuana and make their way to Los Angeles where they find work. The girl falls ill and her brother loses his job. He sets out for Chicago unaware that his sister is dying.
Cast & credits
Cast
- Arturo Xuncax Ernesto Gómez Cruz
- Enrique Xuncax David Villalpando
- Rosa Xuncax Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez
- Lupe Alicia del Lago
- Informer Miguel Gomez Giron
- Foreman José Martin Ruano
- Josefita Stella Quan
- Pedro Eraclio Zepeda
- Luis Emilio Gomez Ozuna
- Encarnacion Daniel Lemus Valenzuela
- El Puma, the Soldier Rodrigo Puebla
- Josefita's Daughter Yosahandi Navarrete Quan
- Ramon Rodolfo de Alexandre
- Truck Driver Emilio del Haro
- Old Man on Bus Jorge Moreno
- Cayote at Bus Station Palomo Garcia
- Jaime the Coyote Mike Gomez
- Jeering Slumdweller Ismael Gamez
- Jeering Slumdweller Silverio Lujan
- Jeering Slumdweller Socorro Valezquez
- Ed, Border Guard John Martin
- Joel, Border Guard Ronald Joseph
- Raimundo Abel Franco
- Fruit Vendor Rosario Cevellos
- Monty Trinidad Silva
- Nacha Lupe Ontiveros
- Mr. Chung Young Chung
- Len the Restaurateur Gregory Enton
- Carlos the Bus Boy Tony Plana
- Model in Sweat Shop Slavitza Yhuelo
- Model in Sweat Shop Julie Silliman
- Jorge the Dishwasher Enrique Castillo
- English Teacher Momo Yashima
- Helen Rogers Jo Marie Ward
- Girl Who Orders Coffee Loraine Shields
- Bruce the Waiter Larry Cedar
- Karen the Hostess Sheryl Bernstein
- Alice Harper Diane Civita
- Curandera Eulalia Cardenas
- INS Officer Jules Segal
- INS Officer Perry Page
- Nurse Mary Armantrout
- Dr. Murphy George O'hanlon Jr.
- Lab Technician Bob Cane
- Construction Site Foreman Pablo Velasquez
Credits
Direction
- Director Gregory Nava
- Assistant director (US unit) Robert Romero
- Assistant director (US unit) Amanda Gill
- Assistant director (Mexican unit) Tony Ogaz
- Assistant director (Mexican unit) Roberto Gerhard
Production
- ©/Production Company Inc. Independent Productions
- Production Company American Playhouse
- Funding Public Television Stations
- Funding Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Additional funding Channel Four
- Producer Anna Thomas
- 2nd unit production manager Amanda Gill
- Unit Production Manager Trevor Black
- Unit production manager (Mexican unit) Berta Navarro
- Location liaison (Mexican unit) Oscar Gomez Trujillo
- Post-production Supervisor Amanda Gill
- Production Assistant Rea Tajiri
Writing
- Screenplay Gregory Nava
- Screenplay Anna Thomas
- Original story Gregory Nava
Photography
- Director of Photography James Glennon
- Additional photography (US unit) Gregory Nava
- Substitute camera Ronald Vidor
Editing
- Editor Betsy Blankett
Design
- Set designer (US unit) David Wasco
- Set dresser (US unit) David Wasco
Costumes
- Costumes (US unit) Hilary Wright
- Costume master (Mexican unit) Daniel Lemus Valenzuela
Make-up
- Special makeup effects (Mexican unit) Alfredo Bustos
Titles
- Titles Hollywood Title Services
- Titles Animagraphics
Music
- Traditional/original music by/performed Los Folkloristas
- Traditional/original harp music by/perfo Melecio Martinez
- Marimba/atmospheric music by/performed Emil Richards
- Mariachi music arranged and performed Mariachi Nuevo Uclatlan
- Music Editor Lida P. Saskova
- Latin American music consultant Timothy Harding
- Guatemalan music research Linda O'brien
- Ethnographic recordings Linda O'brien
Sound
- Sound Design Michael C. Moore
- Sound Recording Robert Yerington
- Sound Re-recording Richard Portman
- Sound Editor David Kern
- Sound Editor Barbara Noble
- Sound Editor Sheila Amos
- Sound Editor Baird Bryant
- Sound Editor Keva Rosenfeld
- Foley Gregg Barbanell
Stunts
- Stunt Co-ordinator Bob Ozman
- Camera helicopter pilot Alan Kappmeier
- Border patrol pilot Steve B. Williams
- Border patrol pilot William Veal
- Border patrol pilot Leonard Meyer
Consultant
- Guatemalan dialogue translations Arturo Arias
- Mexican dialogue translations Eraclio Zepeda
- Animal Trainer Ron Oxley