Alambrista

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Alambrista

1977

1h 50m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Struggling to support his family in Mexico, Roberto (Domingo Ambriz), a young Mexican man, illegally crosses the border to the United States in search of work. Exploited by his American employers, Roberto labors in harsh conditions for insufficient wages and fails to make enough money for his family. Continually on the lookout for immigration raids, Roberto has to maintain a constant vigilance as he travels from town to town, searching for employment.

Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

04/27/2018

"Alambrista" is a symphony of memorable images.

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Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

08/13/2019

Without being demagogic or sentimental, Robert Young has crafted a dramatic movie that shows the struggle of Mexican migrants who dream of legally residing in the US. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

06/01/2012

3/4

Roberto endures and escapes one random set of dire circumstances after another without feeling contrived or stopping for cheap sentimental tricks. He even makes a certain selfish choice, but at the time, after what he's been through, who could blame him?

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

05/22/2012

3.5/4

Now the film can be more fully appreciated for what it is: an influential inspiration to Latino filmmakers and a powerful, non-politicized depiction of the wages of American immigration policy. [Blu-ray]

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

05/12/2012

B

A worthy social drama on the heartbreaking hardships of being a Mexican illegal in the States.

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Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

05/01/2012

8/10

Free of false sentiment and always clear of vision.

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01/26/2016

A rare film that examines the life of an illegal immigrant from a personal, intimate perspective. Less of a depiction than a document.

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11/16/2012

Groundbreaking drama is honest and straightforward.

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04/24/2012

Read and comment on my review at http://bit.ly/JDFAoh

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01/12/2011

The scene where Dmingo Ambriz's characters "girlfriend" the waitress was trying to help him send a money order back home, Asked a customer to translate & then found out he was sending $$$ back home to his wife was hilarious! Also where he & his buddy were riding in the Cadillac on the car trailer on top of a moving train looked like fun.Shame his buddy had to be an idiot

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Robert M. Young

Director

Domingo Ambriz

Roberto

Trinidad Silva

Joe

Linda Gillin

Sharon

Ned Beatty

Anglo Coyote

Julius Harris

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Synopsis

Struggling to support his family in Mexico, Roberto (Domingo Ambriz), a young Mexican man, illegally crosses the border to the United States in search of work. Exploited by his American employers, Roberto labors in harsh conditions for insufficient wages and fails to make enough money for his family. Continually on the lookout for immigration raids, Roberto has to maintain a constant vigilance as he travels from town to town, searching for employment.

Director: Robert M. Young
Producer: Michael Hausman, Irwin Young
Screenwriter: Robert M. Young
Distributor: First Run, Public Broadcasting Service
Production Co: Filmhaus
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1977, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Apr 17, 2012
Runtime: 1h 50m