Film Overview"The Border" is a 1982 police procedural movie directed by Tony Richardson and starring Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Valerie Perrine, and Elpidia Carrillo. The movie's movie script was composed by Deric Washburn, Walon Green, and David Freeman. The film digs into the deep-seated problems of corruption, immigrants' desperation, and the indifference and complicity of those living on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Plot SummaryIn "The Border", Jack Nicholson plays Charlie Smith, a border guard hesitantly transferred to Texas from Los Angeles. His partner, Marcy (Valerie Perrine), has expensive tastes and insists on living a high-end lifestyle, including a luxury home they can barely manage. This pressure leads Charlie to get involved with a group of corrupt border patrol representatives, led by his partner, Cat (Harvey Keitel).
These corrupt representatives generate income through prohibited activities like smuggling Mexicans into the United States for large amounts. Regardless of initial hesitation, Charlie sweatily keeps his head low, attempting to make adequate cash and live peacefully. However, everything changes when he fulfills Maria (Elpidia Carrillo), a young Mexican mother with an infant woman.
While initially Charlie plainly obtains money from Maria, he eventually ends up being understanding to her predicament. He finds out that Maria's baby has been kidnapped by the baby-selling ring his colleagues are included with. Charlie decides he can't neglect this inhumanity and sets out on an objective to rescue the kid and secure Maria.
Secret Themes and Characters"The Border", while being a consistently violent film, provides a thoughtful, agonizing portrayal of the squashing repercussions of corruption and hardship. Charlie Smith is an ethically uncertain character. He is a tacitly condescending partner and an unwilling individual in the corruption. Nevertheless, his redemption arc through his involvement with Maria and her child skillfully humanizes him.
Marcy, played by Perrine, signifies the hedonistic unrestrained high life that is the driving force behind Charlie's preliminary ethical corruption. Meanwhile, Harvey Keitel's character, Cat, represents the deeply established corruption within the system.
Conclusion"The Border" is a compelling drama that dissects life on the U.S-Mexico border, exposing the depths of corruption within the border control system and exposing the human catastrophe at the heart of the immigration concern. The film uses a grim evaluation of the American Dream while supplying Jack Nicholson with a platform to deliver among his finest performances.
In spite of being a motion picture of the 1980s, it's thought-provoking subject resonates today as border problems and corruption continue. Besides its socio-political commentary, the motion picture is also an exact character research study, analyzing the improvement of an 'everyman' character like Charlie Smith when faced with deep corruption and the dire scenarios of individuals like Maria. It ends with a somewhat bittersweet note, evoking strong sentiments. The brilliant efficiencies, paired with an interesting plot, make "The Border" a must-watch for those looking for an impactful movie theater.
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