Gang Issues In The Movie Sin Nombre

The film Sin Nombre depicts the issues that currently plague Central America. Gang affiliation and the increasing violence that is taking hold of the communities as well as migration out of Central America. The increase insecurity and violence has propelled many to head to the United States in search of a safe and prosperous future, as was the case of Sayra and her family. Benito or “Smiley” introduced to the gang as the gang acts as a source of order in the town that appears to have been affected by the instability of Latin American countries. The instability related to the emergence of gangs in Central America and the immigration to the United States comes from the constant violence experienced in these nations from the proxy wars fought …show more content…
These people who lived on the margins were able to emerge from being completely ignored by political circles because of the destruction of certain structures in society. We can see how the persecution of unions, which were once, organized entities with political ties to the government allowed for gangs to enter the vacancy the left. The book “Territories in Resistance” depicts revolts in Argentina (1997-2001) and Bolivia (September-October 2003) as fueled by these people in the margins and no longer by the labor unions that once dominated as the everyday people. The unions provided a framework to voice out their concerns and outlined goals they intended to reach. Gangs and new views on community took root as many people in unions were targeted and killed their influence began to wane and as people migrated to cities from the countryside fleeing violence. These people on the margins spoken in the Territories in Resistance can be seen in the gangs that are shown in the movie. Gangs decide how the community will function and control aspects of the community like who can enter the territory. In a way, they serve as the protectors of the communities against other gangs. As we saw in the movie, the gang leader is worried about others entering their territories and damaging their community, but at the same time he attempts to rape and then murders and a teenage girl. Casper recruits a young Smiley into the gang to kill and parole for the gangs. This is a striking contrast between the pervious unions that organized the workers and spoke on their behalf for rights like minimum wages and collective bargaining. Instead, the gangs focus on surviving in what appears to be a stateless territory. They break up of the social system of the government and bring into mainstream society what was once held back at the margins. The