Guatemalans escaping their home country for better lives. Refugees seeking Mexican coyotes to cross the border. Undocumented immigrants working in factories and restaurants fearing deportation some day.

Sound familiar?

The same story had resonated thirty-five years ago as presented with the film El Norte as it unfolds on national television everyday today. There is a realization that things haven’t changed in this world.

El Norte is a film that was once described as the “Grapes of Wrath of our time” by film critic Roger Ebert. It tells the tale of a brother and sister escaping their war-torn country of Guatemala to journey for a better life in the United States. The siblings will soon discover their journey is untrusting and perilous and the land of opportunity is a myth.

The film is restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will be screened by Fathom Events in 200 cinemas to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

It was nominated for an Academy Award for the emotional and compassionate screenplay written by Gregory Nava and Anna Thomas. El Norte entered the list of “culturally significant films” with the National Film Registry in 1995.

The film stars Zaide Silvia Gutierrez David Villalpando, Lupe Ontiveros, Ernesto Gomez Cruz, Enrique Castillo and Tony Plana.

El Norte is directed by Gregory Nava (Selena, Bordertown).

A proceed from ticket sales on September 15 will be donated to the Paso Del Norte Community Foundation to help the victims of the El Paso shooting.

El Norte will be playing tomorrow for the one-day only presentation that will include an exclusive introduction by Nava. There will also include a brand new featurette that explores the making of the film. The presentation will be in both English and Spanish. For tickets, visit the Fathom Events page by clicking here.

Watch the exclusive interview above with director Gregory Nava with LRM.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive