"Mexican border towns have long provided an intriguing setting for movies. Anthony Mann's 1949 film Border Incident brilliantly depicts the trafficking of illegal Mexican workers into the United States, while Orson Welles's thrilling noir Touch of Evil highlights some of the prejudices that exist on both sides of the border. More recently, Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel and Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre also hinge their narratives on border crossing. Rigoberto Perezcano's debut feature, Northless, offers a new take on this theme as we follow Andres on his numerous attempts to enter the... United States at the Tijuana border. He befriends two women, Cata and Ela, who run a convenience store in Tijuana, and each time he is sent back to Mexico, he returns to their friendship and care. The relationship between those who leave and those who stay is one of the most affecting parts of the film. Strong ties exist in Mexico, but people like Andres feel they must attempt the crossing to provide a better life for themselves and their families. In spite of this hopeful aim, bonds are inevitably broken by the line between Mexico and the United States. As Andres moves closer to the border from his native Oaxaca, Perezcano displays a wonderful sensitivity for the minutiae of everyday life and the many nuances of relationships. Andres's interactions with both women are treated with great subtlety and respect; all three of them have partners and families living elsewhere, a constant reminder of one of the many pains of border crossing. Despite the difficulty of the film's subject matter, Perezcano's ability to find humour in the absurd provides relief as we accompany Andres in his latest attempt to make it to the other side." Quoting Diana Sanchez in the program notes from the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival site.
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| Release date: | 2009 |
| Directed by: | Rigoberto Perezcano |
| Runtime: | 94 Minutes |
| Producer: | Edgar San Juan |
| Editor: | Miguel Schverdfinger |
| Music by: | Cornelio Reyna |
| Cinematography: | Alejandro Cantú |
| Screenplay by: | Rigoberto Perezcano, Edgar San Juan |