El Norte – Reflection Questions

Part I) GUATEMALA
1. What are some aspects of Guatemalan culture that are different from US
culture according to what you observed in the movie? (I.e. food, customs,
etc.)
2. What did you notice about the political situation in Guatemala? How do
people in power (i.e. the plantation foreman, the army) treat others in the
movie?
3. What is the perception of “El Norte”?

Part II) MEXICO

1. How do the Guatemalans in the movie perceive Mexicans and vice versa?
How are indigenous people perceived?
2. Describe the situation in Tijuana. Why does the coyote say “nadie es dueño
de nada”?
3. How do the border patrol officers treat the siblings? What languages are
used in the meeting (by both parties) and why?

Part III) LOS ANGELES

1. What are Rosa and Enrique’s first impressions of Los Angeles? Does “El
Norte” live up to their expectations?
2. Why is there more work for women immigrants than the men?
3. What is a “Chicano”? How does the Mexican immigrant treat the Chicano
and why?
4. Where are the “gringos”? When Rosa and Nacha go to their first cleaning
job, what are the communication issues between the “gringa” and the two
women?

Part IV)
1. Why is Rosa scared of the hospital and what happens there?
2. How has living in “El Norte” changed Enrique?
3. Why do you think the movie ends the way it does?
4. Did this movie affect your perception of immigration and how immigrants live
in this country? Why or why not?