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.

thmurphy-37414 Sin Nombre is a beautifully filmed movie that involves gangs and Immigration. The movie starts off with a gangster named Casper, who has tattoos representing his role in the gang. Not having a family causes him to grow up with the gang and grow dependent on them. Later, he involves his brother, Smiley, in the gang, following the harsh beating for initiation into the gang. To fully become a member of the gang, one must kill a member of the opposing gang. Then the story line moves over to the main female character named Sayra. She has grown up not knowing her dad, until he has decided to take Sayra, her brother, and uncle to America. They begin the process by getting on a train from Honduras to Mexico. *SPOILER* After Casper kills the main leader of the gang, Lil' Mago, for killing Casper's girlfriend, Martha, the entire gang is hunting after him. Calling anyone they have connections to, and following him all the way to the border after he hops on the same train Sayra is on. They slowly become friends, which I thought was a little awkward at first, and then very heart-warming as Sayra jumps off of the train after Casper does. I thought that was a very horrible decision on Sayra's part, but it turns out she had the better outcome than her family. Casper and Sayra squeeze by and somehow made it to the border, which was very surprising. If anyone watches this movie, they will be very surprised by what the physical border between the states and Mexico actually is. It is a river, and nothing else besides patrol cars passing each spot every hour or so. ***SPOILER*** Casper gives up his camera to the man with the tube that will carry each one to the other side separately, which proves his connection to Sayra even more as that camera is all he has left of his deceased girlfriend. The gang catches up to them and Casper runs away to protect Sayra from them. Casper runs into his brother smiley, and he shoots him due to the gangs influence. The one thing that is different about movies filmed outside the United States, there is no happy ending. The only happy part was when Sayra made it to the United States and called her Aunt. I thought is was an eye opener to movies outside the United States, and to know that a movie can end without a happy ending is very different. Overall Sin Nombre is a must see movie. You will not be disappointed.

Elinor This film is an international film, and once you start watching it you can already tell that the whole movie is not in English, but rather in Spanish, and this is what makes it so captivating to watch. The film is not like most American films that people are used to watching, most American films end with a happy ending or the protagonist in the film ends up having a great life at the end of the film, sometimes even better than before. What makes international films so intriguing is that it is different, but different in a unique and special way. If I had to describe the setting of this film it would be depressing, and violent. I really enjoyed how the film showed daily life in Central America, and how Spanish speaking peoples are affected by gangs. The characters in this film is what made the movie so intriguing to watch, the way they showed their feelings throughout the film, and the way they acted, is what made the movie realistic to similar life situations . This film does include some sexual contact, blood/violence, so if this is not what you prefer to watch, then this film is not the right choice for you. I believe Sin Nombre was a really great film, because it got it's point across, and you can really see what's going on in Central America, and learn about something that you weren't aware of before, or knew of but didn't know how it affects people in Central America . I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars

SnoopyStyle Willy 'El Casper' is a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. He helps initiate Smiley into the gang. The gang leader Lil Mago tries to rape and accidentally kills his girlfriend Martha. Lilo Mago takes Casper and Smiley to rob migrants on the train. Sayra is there with her father and uncle on their way to the New Jersey. Lilo Mago tries to rape her and Casper kills him. Smiley goes back to report to the new leader but he's accused of helping Casper. Smiley vows to kill Casper who has escaped on the train with Sayra's help. The gang goes all out to track down Casper.The performances are natural. The gangster story is scary. The migrant story is engaging. It is intense and poignant. It is director Cary Fukunaga's first full length film and he shows a real eye for the material.