Paraiso Travel stands out as a compelling and intense film, joining the important cinematic conversation around immigration, specifically viewed through the often-unseen perspective of those undertaking the journey to the United States. This powerful movie doesn’t shy away from depicting the arduous and frequently brutal path immigrants face, and the subsequent disillusionment that can follow when the reality of the “American Dream” clashes with harsh truths.
Written by Jorge Franco Ramos and Juan Rendón, and directed with a keen eye by Simon Brand, Paraiso Travel features a cast of lesser-known actors, with the exception of John Leguizamo. The film poignantly tells the story of Reina (Angelica Blandon) and Marlon (Aldemar Correa), two young individuals who leave Medellin, Colombia, embarking on a perilous journey as immigrants. Their aim is to traverse Guatemala, Mexico, and Texas, ultimately reaching New York City in pursuit of their vision of the American Dream.
The narrative unfolds through flashbacks, revealing the couple’s unwavering focus on their dream, to the point where they risk losing themselves in its pursuit. Paraiso Travel powerfully portrays the grim and often inhumane experiences faced by immigrants in South American countries as they journey north. Some of these scenes are stark and unflinching, making for difficult yet essential viewing.
What’s particularly striking is the film’s depiction of the realities that confront immigrants even upon reaching the USA. Many arrive with limited English language skills and face a challenging American labor market, often enduring substandard living conditions as undocumented individuals. Marlon’s reaction to the plight of illegal immigrants – encountering street workers, living in cheap lodging, and taking on menial jobs – is portrayed as one of disgust. His primary focus shifts to the desperate search for Reina, who becomes separated from him in New York due to a misunderstanding, further highlighting the personal tragedies within the larger immigrant narrative.
Revealing more of the plot would diminish the film’s impact. Suffice it to say, Paraiso Travel bravely exposes the less romanticized aspects of immigration and the harsh realities that can replace the hopeful dreams of those who undertake the dangerous passage to what they believe is a land of opportunity. It’s a crucial perspective, revealing another side of the immigration story that deserves to be seen and understood.
Grady Harp
