Review
What I thought would be a politically motivated film targeting the US immigration and foreign policy turned out to be a sad, moving story of a young Guatemalan born into extreme poverty and his journey from street kid to the first US casualty of the war in Iraq.
I found myself searching for places to put my anger. Should I be angry with US for their involvement in Guatemala in 1980’s (actually their involvement goes back to the 1950’s)? How about the US use of green card soldiers to fight in an unpopular war? What of the foster family that profited from his death and looks to profit further through a movie deal? Maybe I should be angry with his estranged sister, who received a pile of cash, a free trip to the USA and US citizenship. What of all the people who literally risk life and limb to make the journey north? It was not always easy to be angry with the people that I wanted to be angry with.
The documentary did leave me with a sense that if only José would have survived that war he could have been a true immigration success story.
I felt somewhat connected to this movie and began to wonder if, at one time, I may have seen José Antonio Gutierrez on the streets of Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala in the early 1990’s prior to embarking on his journey north. My wife actually attended the opening of the Casa Alianza in Ciudad Vieja.
Sebastian Williams
SpanishTown.ca
Synopsis
The film tells the moving and nearly unbelievable story of a one-time street kid from Guatemala, who headed north along the Pan-American Highway — full of hopes and desires for a better future — ultimately to die an American hero far from home in a deadly quest for US citizenship. A so-called ‘green-card soldier’ José Antonio Gutierrez was one of approximately 32,000, fighting in the ranks of the US Armed Forces. A few hours after the war began, his picture was broadcast all over the world: he was the first American soldier to be killed in the war. Chilling, thought-provoking, and profound, José Antonio’s story is no adventurer’s tale. It is the story of a young man’s attempt to survive — on both sides of the world.
What the Critics Say
“A classic tale of an up-by-your-bootstraps immigrant” — The New York Times
“An artful film… a sad, illuminating story.” — Newsweek
“Rather than simply offering an indictment of US foreign policy, the film attempts to give a fuller record of Gutierrez’s life through diligent legwork.” — The Globe and Mail
“A fellow Marine's description of the exact moment of Gutierrez's death is crushing in its intimacy, both for the emotions of the teller and the excruciating tale being told.”— Los Angeles Times
“A damning indictment of an immigration policy that allows non-citizens the chance to die for a country not yet theirs and a bleak look at the poverty and desperation that make that chance look attractive.”— NOW Magazine
“Impeccably crafted… An unforgettable tale of hope and tenacity.” — The Seattle Times
“A brilliant film” — Toronto Sun
