El Norte

Gregory Nava (Selena, Mi Familia) directed this 1983 drama depicting two young Guatemalan siblings’ struggle to flee civil war for a better life in the United States. One of the first films to deal with the touchy subject of immigration, this timely and timeless drama is told through the eyes of newcomers Zaide Silvia Gutierrez, as the resourceful Rosa, and David Villalpando, as her protective brother. Nava takes us through their joyous achievements and sometimes horrifying struggles for a better world. The picture received an Oscar nomination for best screenplay in 1985, the first American independent film to be so honored. PBS partly funded the project, which was selected for the National Film Registry in 1995. Tony Plana and late El Pasoan Lupe Ontiveros also star. — Jaime Mendez