Frontera

Miguel crosses from Mexico into Arizona, planning to work a few months and go back to support his family. The same day the wife of Roy, a former sheriff, is found dead while out riding. Miguel is arrested. Following the investigation, Roy sees that something in the account does not fit. Meanwhile Miguel's pregnant wife Paulina tries to cross to find him and falls into the hands of traffickers. Michael Berry directs in his first film. Ed Harris plays Roy, Michael Peña plays Miguel and Eva Longoria plays Paulina. The structure runs on two lines: a murder investigation and a crossing. The two join and the narrative shows both sides of the border. Its most concrete element is the economy of smuggling. Paulina's strand shows without ornament how a crossing works, who takes the money and what happens to the women. Roy avoids the type; the former sheriff is not after revenge and is looking for the right answer rather than a culprit. Its weakness is the thin writing of some supporting characters, particularly the strand with the young men. It was made at small scale and had a limited release after the festivals. Who it is for: viewers who like border narratives and quiet American independent drama. Who it is not for: the pace is slow, the plot rests on coincidence, and the ending ties up too neatly.