History 15
Spring 2004
The Movie: El Norte (1983)
Mayan Indian peasants were tired of being thought of as nothing more than "strong arms", and organizing in an effort to improve their lot in life. The Guatemalan army was very powerful at that time, and destroyed many villages included the Mayan village. After the army destroyed their villages and most of the families, a brother and sister, teenagers who just barely escaped the massacre, decided that they must flee to "El Norte" ("The North"), where it is safe. After receiving clandestine help from friends and humorous advice from a veteran…
