Our group chose the Spanish movie “Sin Nombre.” This movie is related to gangs located mainly in Mexico and El Salvador. The main gang in the movie is called Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13. This gang is strongly known for their violence and popularity. One of the main characters in the movie, EL Casper, is a member of MS-13 and is highly respected by the other gang members. In today’s society, MS-13 is an organized gang that is both dangerous and powerful.
The Mara Salvatrucha gang has around 10,000 members and continues to grow. They recruit anyone from the ages of 5 to 30. It is not just men that join the gang either; some of the gang is composed of women. The main targets for recruitment are children that have been in juvenile detention and are immigrants in the United States. The majority of the members are Hispanic. When a new member is being initiated, like Smiley for example, they must kill someone in order to join MS-13. They also need to undergo a brutal beating from multiple members for 13 seconds. Both of these challenges help prove the prospective member’s loyalty and “toughness.” In the movie, Smiley murders two guys in order to gain respect from the gang. Gaining respect in MS-13 is like one working their way up the hierarchy in a workplace. Once a member is accepted into the gang, they must pledge their participation for life. Most people join a gang …show more content…
Casper knew that killing Horacio would make himself a dead man. Later that day he was assigned a mission with Horacrio and Smiley; to board the train and steal money. On the mission, Casper could not handle the pain he had been through over the loss of his girlfriend and killed Horacio. He then had to run for his life because he knew he was a dead man. Once one is in the MS-13 gang, they are to live up to the gang’s rules and expectations or suffer severe consequences. Murdering another member is a definite suicide
The Mara Salvatrucha gang has around 10,000 members and continues to grow. They recruit anyone from the ages of 5 to 30. It is not just men that join the gang either; some of the gang is composed of women. The main targets for recruitment are children that have been in juvenile detention and are immigrants in the United States. The majority of the members are Hispanic. When a new member is being initiated, like Smiley for example, they must kill someone in order to join MS-13. They also need to undergo a brutal beating from multiple members for 13 seconds. Both of these challenges help prove the prospective member’s loyalty and “toughness.” In the movie, Smiley murders two guys in order to gain respect from the gang. Gaining respect in MS-13 is like one working their way up the hierarchy in a workplace. Once a member is accepted into the gang, they must pledge their participation for life. Most people join a gang …show more content…
Casper knew that killing Horacio would make himself a dead man. Later that day he was assigned a mission with Horacrio and Smiley; to board the train and steal money. On the mission, Casper could not handle the pain he had been through over the loss of his girlfriend and killed Horacio. He then had to run for his life because he knew he was a dead man. Once one is in the MS-13 gang, they are to live up to the gang’s rules and expectations or suffer severe consequences. Murdering another member is a definite suicide