El Norte Identity

One of the social issues in the film El Norte is losing one’s identity. The identity of Rosa and Enrique were continuously challenged by their community. Rosa and Enrique had to give up their identity as they migrate to El Norte for the purpose of safety and security. At El Norte, both Rosa and Enrique adapted new values deemed appropriate and essential in their new community. Their effort to adapt new values is highlighted, especially when Enrique had to choose between working out of states or staying with Rosa. Thus, the film depicts how social structure often forces people to give up their identity not only to feel a sense of belonging, but for safety and protection. In Guatemala, Rosa and Enrique were both living in fear due to the

This action by Rosa signifies how she is abandoning part of her cultural identity to get to El Norte and escape from the danger in Guatemala. Therefore, this shows how fears of persecution force Rosa to give up her identity. Moreover, when Rosa and Enrique were asked by the truck driver and immigrant officers about their personal information, they both said that they are from Mexico and attempted to change the way they speak. This shows how Rosa and Enrique were left with no option but to change the way they are in order to reach El Norte. Once Rosa and Enrique arrived at el norte, they both made an effort to assimilate in their new country. For instance, they took English lesson and change the way they dress. Rosa and Enrique modified their own identity and adapt new values that are deemed appropriate by their community. Although all these examples show how Rosa and Enrique gave up part of their identity, the main issue of to what extent one is willing to lose their identity is emphasized when Rosa got sick. When Rosa got sick, Enrique had to choose between solidarity or survival. In

Since this scene appears in the first part of the film, I thought it will foreshadowed the death of Enrique once they reach El Norte. Therefore, I am wondering what does this scene signifies or does the white flower is a symbol of something in the film? In addition, since the film is inspired to Popol Vuh, the movie is divided into parts. I am wondering whether there is another reason why the director chose to divide the film into parts? If the film is continuous, it can signify how the struggle of Rosa and Enrique to gain freedom remains whether in Guatemala or El Norte, which is emphasized by Rosa when she stated, “where is our home?” However, I also thought that maybe the film is divided to symbolizes separation that Rosa and Enrique felt in their community or to emphasize that they are in a new location, but they are still experiencing the same struggles. Lastly, does the directors intended to represent Enrique as a reflection of his father in the film? This is because I noticed how Enrique’s father started with saying how their boss only cared for strong arms and then at the end of the movie Enrique is showing how he has strong arms to work. Therefore, I thought Enrique ended up like what his father stated in the beginning of the