''Entre nos'' ( en, Between Us, italic=yes) is a 2009
drama film directed by
Paola Mendoza and Gloria La Morte.
The film is a semi-autobiographical tale based on the arrival of Mendoza's own mother to the United States.
The film explores the life of Mariana, a
Colombian immigrant attempting to survive on the streets of
New York City with her two children. The film has been screened at over 14 film festivals, including the
Tribeca Film Festival, where it received an Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature.
Synopsis
Mariana is a Colombian immigrant who has recently traveled to
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
with her two children, 10-year-old Gabriel and 6-year-old Andrea, in order to be reunited with her husband, Antonio. However, one day Antonio leaves his family after announcing that he has found work in Miami, and it soon becomes apparent to Mariana that he does not intend to return. Seeing this, she sets out with her children onto the streets of
Queens in an attempt to scrape together a decent living. When selling her homemade
empanadas fails to bring in any money, Mariana and the children begin collecting aluminum cans off the city's streets. Complications arise, and soon the family finds itself in a desperate day-to-day struggle for survival.
Cast
*
Paola Mendoza as Mariana
*Sebastian Villada as Gabriel
*Laura Montana Cortez as Andrea
*Anthony Chisholm as Joe
*Andres Munar as Antonio
*
Sarita Choudhury as Preet
*Isabel Sung as Mi-Sun
Production
The screenplay for ''Entre nos'' took two years to complete.
Due to the strict requirements of the roles, La Morte and Mendoza auditioned over 200 girls for the role of Andrea and over 300 boys for the role of Gabriel before ultimately settling on Cortez and Villada Lopez.
Release
The film made its world premiere at the
Tribeca Film Festival in 2009, and subsequently screened on the festival circuit. It was given a limited release in select cinemas in New York and Miami on May 14, 2010.
Critical reception
The film received positive reviews from film critics. Review aggregator
Rotten Tomatoes reports that 83% of professional critics gave the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.2/10.
A review by Andy Webster of ''
The New York Times'' said of directors Mendoza and La Morte that "both are deft with pacing, composition and atmosphere," in addition to claiming that the scenes involving Mariana's children "have charm and authenticity."
V.A. Musetto of ''
The New York Post'' called Mendoza's performance "heart-tugging."
David Noh of ''
Film Journal International'' described the film as "an indictment of this incredibly wealthy country's indifference to the less fortunate," and praised the performances of Villada and Cortez, referring to the two as "miracles of naturalism."
Michelle Orange of ''
The Village Voice'' called the film "strangely resonant" and claimed the directors have a "mitigating eye for destitution."
According to ''
Slashfilm'',
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and left-wing activist. His works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism.
Moore won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for ' ...
included ''Entre nos'' on his list of the 20 best films of 2009, in an email Moore sent to those on his mailing list.
Awards
References
External links
Official website*
*
*{{AllMovie title, 483339
2009 drama films
2009 independent films
American independent films
Films set in New York City
Films about poverty in the United States
Films about immigration to the United States
Spanish-language American films
Spanish-language drama films
2000s Spanish-language films