Alambrista

Released Oct 16, 1977

1h 50m

Drama

List

100%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

Struggling to support his family in Mexico, Roberto (Domingo Ambriz), a young Mexican man, illegally crosses the border to the United States in search of work. Exploited by his American employers, Roberto labors in harsh conditions for insufficient wages and fails to make enough money for his family. Continually on the lookout for immigration raids, Roberto has to maintain a constant vigilance as he travels from town to town, searching for employment.

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Audience Member

A rare film that examines the life of an illegal immigrant from a personal, intimate perspective. Less of a depiction than a document.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Groundbreaking drama is honest and straightforward.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Read and comment on my review at http://bit.ly/JDFAoh

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The scene where Dmingo Ambriz's characters "girlfriend" the waitress was trying to help him send a money order back home, Asked a customer to translate & then found out he was sending $$$ back home to his wife was hilarious! Also where he & his buddy were riding in the Cadillac on the car trailer on top of a moving train looked like fun.Shame his buddy had to be an idiot

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Robert M. Young

Director

Domingo Ambriz

Roberto

Trinidad Silva

Joe

Linda Gillin

Sharon

Ned Beatty

Anglo Coyote

Julius Harris

Drunken Man

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Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

"Alambrista" is a symphony of memorable images.

Apr 27, 2018

Full Review

Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

Without being demagogic or sentimental, Robert Young has crafted a dramatic movie that shows the struggle of Mexican migrants who dream of legally residing in the US. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 13, 2019

Full Review

Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

Roberto endures and escapes one random set of dire circumstances after another without feeling contrived or stopping for cheap sentimental tricks. He even makes a certain selfish choice, but at the time, after what he's been through, who could blame him?

Rated: 3/4

Jun 1, 2012

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Now the film can be more fully appreciated for what it is: an influential inspiration to Latino filmmakers and a powerful, non-politicized depiction of the wages of American immigration policy. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 3.5/4

May 22, 2012

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A worthy social drama on the heartbreaking hardships of being a Mexican illegal in the States.

Rated: B

May 12, 2012

Full Review

Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

Free of false sentiment and always clear of vision.

Rated: 8/10

May 1, 2012

Full Review

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Synopsis

Struggling to support his family in Mexico, Roberto (Domingo Ambriz), a young Mexican man, illegally crosses the border to the United States in search of work. Exploited by his American employers, Roberto labors in harsh conditions for insufficient wages and fails to make enough money for his family. Continually on the lookout for immigration raids, Roberto has to maintain a constant vigilance as he travels from town to town, searching for employment.

Director: Robert M. Young
Distributor: First Run, Public Broadcasting Service
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 1977, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Apr 17, 2012
Runtime: 1h 50m