Critic Reviews
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J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Christopher Zalla, a graduate of the film program at Columbia University, makes an impressive debut with this suspense feature about illegal immigrants and stolen identity.
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
[Director Christopher] Zalla may have provided his characters with a overly constructed tragedy, but his eye for city life and his seeming gift with actors promises astute, generous work to come.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Stumbles through a maddening screenplay but nevertheless generates true emotional energy.
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Tasha Robinson, Chicago Tribune
[Director Christopher] Zalla keeps the tension high through a taut story rather than through manipulative, obtrusive thriller direction.
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Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic
Plot flaws and all, we can be glad that the picture was made -- because of its acting.
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Shot mainly in New York's meanest, murkiest streets, Sangre de Mi Sangre, is intricately and imaginatively structured, building to a powerful climax of complex irony.
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Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
Eventually, of course, all the characters will have to collide for a final reckoning, but that moment strains credulity to the breaking point and sabotages the entire enterprise
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Stan Hall, Oregonian
It's the relationships between the characters, layered and emotional, that saves Sangre from itself.
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Brian Tallerico, The Deadbolt
There's nothing easy about Christopher Zalla's very good film, a story that will get under your skin in its depiction of the dark underbelly of the American dream.
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Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
A moving story combined with first rate acting and a great screenplay by a new, but determined, writer/director make this an indie film not to be missed. Modern film noir from the streets of Mexico to the streets of America.
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Larry Ratliff, San Antonio Express-News
Zalla utilizes both the dark back streets of New York and the dark nature of some humans to weave an intoxicating tale of stolen identity and pilfered emotions.
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Amy Nicholson, I.E. Weekly
Zalla wants to know the point where boys become cynics, men become vultures, and the hardened become vulnerable.
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Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
Sangre De Mi Sangre could have done without a few plot coincidences and the film's relentless mean street look seems studied at times. But the film's behavioral honesty pumps vibrant, undeniable life through every frame.
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John P. McCarthy, Boxoffice Magazine
Stands out from the recent wave of movies about the plight of immigrants coming to the United States...because it's more suspenseful than heart-tugging.
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Noel Murray, AV Club
[Director] Zalla prefers to wallow in the dead-end, an approach that's initially powerful, then numbing.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A gritty and poignant Mexican drama about the search for family.
Read all 16 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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After his identity is stolen, a Mexican immigrant struggles to find his long-lost father.
Telling a story from the perspective of Mexican immigrants and the harsh realities they face making a life, working illegally in the U.S., makes for a strong concept. The politics of the story… More
After his identity is stolen, a Mexican immigrant struggles to find his long-lost father.
Telling a story from the perspective of Mexican immigrants and the harsh realities they face making a life, working illegally in the U.S., makes for a strong concept. The politics of the story are just as compelling as the remarkable performances by all four of the lead actors. Jorge Adrian Espindola, especially, brings a vulnerability to a character who essentially serves as the film's villain, and Jesus Ochoa's turn as Diego is almost inspiring.
The film's conclusion is doubtlessly unsatisfying. Most of the film built up a powder keg, but the failure of all the stories colliding made the conclusion fizzle.
Overall, director Christopher Zalla pulled together two acts of very good filmmaking with excellent performances carrying the weight.
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This was a good movie, but pretty unsatisfying.
The movie is basically about how Juan (an illegal immigrant) goes to New York and steals the belongings of another immigrant named Pedro, and tries to steal his identity.
The opening scene was of Juan running away from other people… More
This was a good movie, but pretty unsatisfying.
The movie is basically about how Juan (an illegal immigrant) goes to New York and steals the belongings of another immigrant named Pedro, and tries to steal his identity.
The opening scene was of Juan running away from other people who looked like they wanted to beat him up. You didn't know what he was running from, or why. Then he hops aboard a truck to New York and meets Pedro who is going to New York to see his estranged father.
I can't say if the entire movie was realistic or not. I guess it could be, but it seems pretty unlikely. Anyway, I really liked the entire concept of the movie. Juan is trying to pull another scam, while Pedro is left searching the streets for his father.
The only thing I really hated was the ending. It ended to fast. There wasn't any closure. What happened to the characters? It seemed like the movie ended just like it had started. Juan was still a scammer, Pedro (if he was even still alive) was still looking for his dad and the girl was still a druggie. I would've liked it if Pedro had met his dad-- isn't that what we've been waiting for this whole time? I do like how the movie ended with Juan running away, which is how the movie started. I thought that was clever and gave a little insight into Juan's future. He will probably always be a con artist, especially if he has gotten away with it twice already with lots of cash to show for it. I didn't like that aspect of it. I wish Juan would've gotten caught or learned a lesson of some sort. I don't think he did. I also would've liked the climax to be more climactic. You know? As soon as Juan and Pedro see each other for the first time since arriving to New York, we only see a glimpse of their interaction! Where's the fight?! We don't see it! That's a load of bullshit. Building up to absolutely nothing. OMG.
I'm complaining a lot, but it was a good movie. The execution was excellent and the storyline was awesome. I just wished it had worked out better.
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I hate when Americans do this type of movies and try to label them "Mexican", especially when it's such crap.
An immigrant movie in which is really easy to not sympathize with the terrible characters. Basically, every character in this film is either an asshole or… More
I hate when Americans do this type of movies and try to label them "Mexican", especially when it's such crap.
An immigrant movie in which is really easy to not sympathize with the terrible characters. Basically, every character in this film is either an asshole or impossibly stupid. And then you got "Magda", one of the most unlikable people ever to be put on screen. She's supposed to be, but it was definitely too much. Besides, who talks like that?
SANGRE DE MI SANGRE, or PADRE NUESTRO, had a good concept but it was lost to poor writing and the awful cast. The fact that actors like Jesús Ochoa, Ernesto Derbez and Armando Hernández still get parts puzzles me.
I don't see this film appealing to any Latin filmgoer, or at least Mexicans. The only good thing about this film is its interesting, minimalist score.
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