Interesting take on a serious subject.

"From beginning to end, the director understands that life for most immigrants is an expansive turf war." - Ed Gonzalez

Such a drama but more than that it is real

The third act drops in quality, but otherwise this is a nice debut, with some wonderfully agreeable direction. The short running time and naturalistic acting are also pluses.

A lot of issues are being addressed here, and it's to the filmmakers credit that it still rolls along at a nice pace. The conclusion wasn't very surprising but the film as a whole is a gripping drama about heartbreaking subjects.

Pretty depressing stuff, but not without justification. Everything in the film 'feels' very real as you know these type of events happen daily in the real world. It's a fairly short film too for what it tackles, and although the ending was fairly predictable it still works in the best way. I need to check out Jane Eyre by Fukunaga now.

Even if it bears a strong similarity to City of God, and its story provides few surprises, Sin Nombre is a film which succeeds on its simplicity, directness, and raw emotion. The demographics of the cast show this story is set in a world of life-or-death battles in which survival is reserved only for a lucky few. The need for constant motion drives the story forward effectively, and the cinematography is a nice bonus. Don't we all want to believe for a moment that we're not beyond salvation?

Dramatic story. Well paced; nothing dragged on and nothing felt rushed either. A very effective build up and climax. A sense of loss is constant throughout the movie and culminates at the very end. Good cinematography.

muchacho mata a niño, niña cumple chico, chico rescata a chica, la chica .....

A gripping tale of the wretched circumstances that drive people from Central America into the "land of opportunity" in hopes of a better life despite the dangers and sacrifices that accompany such a harrowing journey. An excellent debut from writer/director Fukunaga.

Excellent. Good use of language, scenery. The plot doesn't drag. Emotionally binding as well.

Succeeds on two accounts, as a crime/chase film, and as a snapshot of immigration.

Beautifully filmed, but when a work aspires to work as a snapshot of immigrant life and an expose of the illicit activities of the Mexican underground, redeem one character, chart the destruction of another's innocence, and basically throw tragedy upon tragedy on yet another, I feel safe in saying that there's just too much crammed into a scant hour-and-a-half running time.

A harrowing look at the harsh realities of gang-related violence and illegal immigration. The story is perfectly paced and wonderfully crafted. It is mostly devastating but it also imparts a message of hope without melodrama or sensationalism. It is nothing short of outstanding.