Tales That Must Be Told

De Nadie (No One)

D: Tin Dirdamal

With the problems associated with America's southern borders grabbing an inordinate amount of headline acreage as of late, the plight of immigrants from such Central American countries as Honduras traveling north through Mexico to reach America has been almost completely overlooked here in the States and elsewhere, to devastating results. Dirdamal's 2005 film – which won a 2006 Audience Award at Sundance in the World Cinema: Documentary category – follows the almost across-the-board tragic story of these immigrants as they are preyed upon relentlessly by ruthless gangs, train-yard "security," corrupt Mexican police officers, and any random ruffian wandering by. They make for almost perfect victims because of their fear of deportation if they report the crimes against them – and the crimes they are subjected to are the worst imaginable: rape, robbery, physical assault, and murder, to list a few of the most popular. Maria is one such Honduran immigrant, who feels such deep shame from being raped in Mexico that she is unable to return and face her children and husband in Honduras. De Nadie's camera work is a little rough and hard to watch, as are the stories of the film's subjects, but this is a tale that must be told: people who have families who love them dearly and a Mexican government doing very little to protect them once they enter Mexico illegally. This adds up to a very sad situation, where no one wins, and everyone loses.

---

Sunday, April 23, 2pm, Metropolitan