Gael Garcia Bernal Jeffrey Dean
Walker Alondra Hidalgo
Desierto
depicts the arduous, dangerous trek undocumented workers from the south make,
trying to reach the U.S. in hopes of a better life. Jonás Cuarón co-wrote, directed and produced the film in
collaboration with his renowned filmmaker father, Alfonso (Gravity, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Children of Men) as producer. A previous joint effort by the father
and son include the multiply award-winning blockbuster, Gravity.
When a truck carrying a group of 14 hopefuls
breaks down in the middle of the desert, the driver tells them and his
unwilling assistant they will have to go the rest of the way on foot. Unfortunately for them, a
self-appointed vigilante (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) with a high-powered rifle and a
well-trained tracking dog is roaming around trying to find them after he sees
their tracks. From there on, the
film is essentially following the group and their pursuer as they laboriously
make their way, not knowing exactly which way to go. It’s a mournful, discouraging story made all too real by
similar accounts we read about in the newspapers. In view of current attitudes toward immigrants, the Cuaróns
hope to rouse some sympathy for those who are so desperate to get here they
undergo uncommon horrors in addition to the blazing sun and thirst.
Filmed in Baja California, Cinematographer
Damian Garcia captures the beauty and desolation of the desert around the
border, accompanied by the haunting music of Woodkid. Bernal is a gifted and experienced actor, and he is up to
his usual performance here; and it’s a good thing because he is the only
admirable character in the film.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, whom I see as a white-skinned Benecio del Toro,
effectively plays a sinister, bitter guy whose favorite recreation seems to be
tracking prey and getting his thrills from hitting the mark.
Desierto
does fill the viewer with suspense and dread as intended by Jonás Cuarón, but
viewing does become tedious at times without much happening besides the
tension-filled chase, except for a few dramatic episodes sprinkled in here and
there. Perhaps it would have
helped if the back-stories of more of the characters were told. We hear only a bit about two, so don’t
have much of an investment in the others.
The most serious missing back-story is that of Sam (Morgan). I would have loved to make sense of his
character by having more details about his journey in life. And by the way, why doesn’t he have a
mobile phone? I understand that
even smugglers are using them nowadays to guide their charges through the
desert. But maybe this is set in
an earlier time.
The exhausting, dangerous journey of
undocumented workers trying to make it to the U.S.
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