Film Review: Adapting To Cross The Border

This movie can be described using the sociological term “generalization.” This term can be applied to the film because the vast majority of the border patrol guards – whether official or self-proclaimed – believe that either the Mexicans are malicious creatures trying to invade the United States, or they are so desperate they would be willing to do anything in order to cross the border. The guards do not consider individual cases and they judge the Mexican people trying to come to the United States as a whole. They heavily generalize these Mexicans and the majority looks down on them; however, this movie did tell at least one story of a kind border patrol guard who let a family cross, but, despite this, the inhumanity toward the immigrants …show more content…
As seen in the movie, the Mexicans planning to cross the border on foot would stuff their bags full of crackers and salty foods, such as canned sardines. The cans were small, lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and salty enough to refuel the body after long treks on uneven, overgrown terrain under the hot sun. The Mexicans planning to make the journey to the United States in the video could be seen practically clearing the grocery store’s shelf of all sardines, taking handfuls of cans at a time. These cans were often found by border patrol guards signaling wetbacks had been there not long before and were likely in the area. Similarly, to refuel, the wetbacks also packed many bottles of water to stay hydrated. They wore light, inexpensive clothes, which sometimes had hidden holes and slots in them to conceal money or other small valuables, and they often carried a bookbag which they had all their other items in. When they got close to crossing the Rio Grande, they seemed to discard their bookbags and unnecessary items to make crossing the river quicker. The border control guards also found these items which alerted them to the wetbacks’ locations, as shown in the documentary. When crossing the Rio Grande, the wetbacks utilized garbage bags or similar objects, and shoelaces. They put their clothes in the bag, tied the bag tight with their one shoelace, and …show more content…
Although they are cognizant of the mentally and physically exhausting trip ahead of them, they still make the journey realizing that, unless they know someone in the United States, they will likely not have a place to live, a job, friends, not much money, very few items, and, potentially, no family if they were traveling alone. Once in the United States, they will start a whole new life and have a whole new self. The wetbacks cross into the United States with very, very little if it is not stolen from them on the voyage – perhaps only the clothes on their back and some money, yet they still take on the task knowing that having little-to-nothing in America is better than having little-to-nothing in their previous situation. It was not stated in the documentary, but one can assume that, one in the United States, they may even change their name to something more “American.” In contrast, as shown in the documentary, when the self-proclaimed border control guard found the container of hair gel discarded in the brush, the wetbacks do want to appear as neat and tidy as possible when entering the United States so they can blend in and hopefully score a job. The wetbacks cross the Rio Grande and enter the United States knowing they will start from the bottom, most likely not know anyone but will maybe find some people like them, and begin a new life with