Editing El Norte (film) (section)

==Themes==

===Magical realism===
Parts of ''El Norte'' provide an example of how Latin American [[magical realism]], primarily found in novels, has been depicted in a theatrical film.<ref name="ebert2004"/><ref>Vasquez, Emilia. Capital Community College, ''Latino Guide: Latino and Latin-American Films''. Last accessed: November 26, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.criterionconfessions.com/2009/01/el-norte-458.html Rich, Jamie S.] Criterion Confessions, film review and analysis, January 18, 2009. Accessed: July 27, 2013.</ref> Ann Hornaday of ''The Washington Post'' wrote: "''El Norte'' was seminal, both for its graceful blend of classical narrative and magic realism, and the power with which it brought an otherwise invisible world to life."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/26/AR2006052600393.html Hornaday, Ann]. ''The Washington Post'', "Moral Compass Points 'Norte'", May 28, 2006. Accessed: July 27, 2013.</ref>

===Indigenous view and bigotry===
''El Norte'' portrays an [[Amerindian]] point-of-view and this is exemplified by the religion they follow. An example is when Rosa Xuncax sings the eulogy at the funeral of her father and its Native American-Maya religious theme. A traditional Maya belief is that life has a cyclical nature.<ref>West. Dennis. ''Cineaste'' v21, n4 (Fall, 1995):26 (3 pages). "Filming the Chicano Family Saga: Interview with Director Gregory Nava". Nava discusses his use of indigenous spirituality in his films, fall 1995.</ref> Rosa sings in her Maya language:

{{blockquote|We came only to sleep, to dream. All things are lent to us. We are only on Earth in passing.}}

Throughout ''El Norte'' young Rosa and Enrique and their family are subjected to many epithets, hatred, and bigotry due to their indigenous heritage. When the father Arturo inadvertently kills a soldier, for example, a [[ladino people|ladino]] screams:

{{blockquote|That bastard Indian killed Puma!}}

And, when Rosa and Enrique reach their destination in Mexico, a passenger screams at the timid Maya youngsters:

{{blockquote|We have arrived to Tijuana, you damn Indians.}}

===Guatemalan exodus===
[[David Villalpando]], the actor who played Enrique Xuncax, gave an interview to ''Lear Media'' about what the film meant to him and why he believes the film is important. Villalpando said:

{{blockquote|Fifteen years ago, the indigenous people in Guatemala were living a cruel extermination that forced them to flee toward Mexico and the United States. This exodus lasted a decade and half a million Guatemalans made the journey to the United States seeking for asylum and refuge...''El Norte'' became a powerful fighting element, grew an audience, searched audiences, and left the theaters to tell its truth.<ref>Villalpando, David. ''Lear Media'', interview with David Villalpando.</ref>}}