Entre nos (2009) User Reviews

Great Performances

[TheGOLDENWALRUS · 7/10 · 28 December 2010]

A mother left by her husband has to face raising her children with no money. Like a very low budget version of Pursuit of Happiness, this film works because it was truer and grittier (nothing against The Pursuit of Happiness).

Paola Mendoza is excellent. We feel for the entire time. We are always alone with her. Her children cooperate with her. I'm pretty sure 99% of most children would react a lot differently. They are with her when she collects/sell cans. They are with her when she sleeps. They are with her when she looks for another job.

The music really holds this thing together. There are times where I get tired of the suffering but the music reminds us that there is still hope.

A nice little piece of film making. 7.25/10 or B

Entre Nos: A stunning tale of Immigration

[vogelenl · 8/10 · 7 March 2011]

From the trying streets of Queens, New York, Entre Nos, captivates the compassion of an immigrant family struggling to make it in America. The complexity of the modern issues of immigration becomes real, as the lives of mother Mariana and her two children (Gabi and Andrea,) unravel into poverty. Through the use of a strong storyline, directors Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza, create a cold world for the most needing hands.

As the storyline progresses and the role of each character becomes evident, the stunning performances of the actors is heart wrenching. Mariana's conviction to caring for her two children is stunning. At an age where giving up seems to be the easier route, she holds on to them with every ounce of her soul. Through her struggle of dialogue with the world around her, Marian's efforts to find work are nothing short of painful.

The particular ability of Gabi and Andrea to perform such important roles at their age is simply impressive. As the times get worse for their family, their clear a deliverance of emotion entitles them awe. Gabi assuming the job of the man of the family in such a mature manner brings about very heavy emotions. Standing guard over his mother and sister on their first night on the streets, the audience can feel the power of direction.

It is the modern American tale. It is the story of the dream, from the ground up. The truth behind how the world can beat you down and the drive to stand back up again. Offering hope to hold on, Entre Nos is a film deserving of praise.

A Struggling Immigrant Family

[katiediskin · 7/10 · 13 March 2011]

Entre Nos is a heartwarming film that truly brings awareness to the struggles that face immigrants in the United States. The story takes place in Queens. When a mother of two children is abandoned by her husband, she does her best to provide for her children. They are left with nothing, and the mother, Mariana, struggles to find work. She had only been in the United States for a short time, and had to resort to living on the streets. Marian finally finds a way to make money, and the movie slowly, but surely begins providing glimpses of hope and encouragement.

One of the most touching moments in the film, is when Mariana's young son sees a school and looks at it through a fence. You are immediately confronted with the fact that Gabriel yearns for an education, and a normal life, but is faced with the impossibility of his desire. As a child, Gabriel has to take over for his family, and do his best to take care of them. He does not seem to be bitter, even through everything he has to bear.

The characters did a fabulous job of pulling the audience in, and expressing their true feelings in any given scene. In the movie, Mariana was not able to speak very good English, which was probably the biggest obstacle. I wanted so badly to be able to translate for her! The film felt so real, and the characters seemed so helpless. It was truly an eye-opening film. Mariana does a fabulous job at acting out the scenes with her children. For their sake, she does her best to keep positive and keep them busy.

The music throughout the film is very sorrowful and heartbreaking, just like the story. It provides an emotional tone for the audience, and a sense of pity for the family. The scenery is extremely dirty and empty. The movie is very suspenseful, and brings on emotions of anxiety, anger, and sadness. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, especially someone who might be better off than most. I think that in the midst of life, we forget how many are less fortunate.

Between Immigration and Emotion

[blustam · 6/10 · 4 March 2011]

The film, Entre Nos is a remarkable and moving film, which transforms the audience's perspective on immigration. The film demonstrates many emotions that immigrants go through when moving to a different country. Mariana comes to the United States with her two children. Her husband abandons them, which results in them having to fend for themselves. The film demonstrates reality and gives hope for people that are struggling. Scenes of the film were set up perfectly, resulting in feelings and emotions. There were dark scenes and light scenes. Mariana was left all alone with her two kids, no money, and could not speak English. She faces the world alone. When the characters are in the outer world, the scenes were light. The lighter scenes showed that there was hope. Even though some scenes were dark, the colors signified anticipation. The inside of the home showed that the family was trapped and if they stayed inside, then they could not accomplish anything. The two languages illustrated the complications and struggles of living in the United States. If people are misunderstood, then it is very hard to accomplish anything. The director asserted that mothers were a gift from god. The director did an astonishing scene that showed the importance of women. Everything else is dark, but Mariana and her kids are shown in the light. This light shows fear, sadness, and helplessness on her face. In the film, the non-birth is symbolic because it is showing the prevention of possibilities in the U.S. It showed how hard it is, and how difficult life choices are due to living here. Watching the family struggle, become dirty, and watching the family struggle was hard. There were so many scenes where it was painful to watch. This showed the severity of the situation, and how much it had became an issue of surviving. The title, Entre Nos is very significant in many ways. We are Americans, and the Latin Americans are between us. We all live life, but there are struggles between us. This family faced many struggles that were between them. After they broke that boundary, they were able to succeed. I think life and reality is portrayed differently in this film. They were living life and reality was between them. When they faced the reality, they overcame the struggle. Watching this film allows viewers to be hopeful, and realize that anything is possible. I think everyone should go out and watch Entre Nos, so that people can have a better understanding of immigration and hope.

Heartland Truly Moving Picture

[tollini · 10/10 · 22 October 2009]

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2009. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

A Latino mother and her two children are stranded in Queens when their philandering, irresponsible father deserts them. There English is almost nil and now they must support themselves asap. First the wife tries selling homemade Espanadas on the street. Then she tries getting day labor by standing on Latino labor street corners. And finally ends up collecting cans for their deposits with her young son and daughter beside her. They are barely making it when they get evicted from their apartment. And then they become homeless and have to sleep outdoors.

What keeps them going under these awful circumstances? Their closeness and love for each other sees them through these difficult times. Also,they are helped by sympathetic strangers who see their heart-wrenching plight.

Through it all they never lose their dignity or morality. They always act honorably and treat others with respect. Their sacrifices and courage and desperate situation make them more appealing as time goes on. The viewer is filled with admiration for what the human spirit can endure and still not be broken.

The story is wonderfully told. It is realistic and understated and believable. You are often moved deeply as the story unfolds.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

What is Between Us

[kingsasiedu · 9/10 · 6 March 2011]

A mother and her two children move from Columbia to join up with the father in New York. The father abandons them. The mother and children are left alone to struggle and find a way to survive. Simply put, this is the plot of Paola Mendoza's and Gloria La Morte's Entre Nos. Of course, it's not quite that simple. The set design, the costumes that our characters wear, the lighting, and, most importantly the acting renders the film from being just another melodramatic flick to a genuine narrative of a three real people—Mariana, Gabriel, and Andrea—who seek to merely survive and thrive as all people do. As the film begins, there is music and there is food. The characters are in good spirits, for Mariana, Gabriel, Andrea, and Antonio have come together. The scene shows a sense of solidarity amongst the family. As a viewer it causes you to ask, what are they celebrating?" Soon enough, you discover that although this is a time of warm and cheerful feelings, it also proves to be the family's "last supper" together as the father— Antonio—abandons them shortly after. So, to answer the question: the farewell to a deadbeat father and disloyal husband is what they celebrate, ironically. Mendoza uses lighting in this dinner scene that is soft and not overly bright. The warmness is conveyed by the array of green, red, and orange colors adorned by the vegetables. The characters' attires bear these hues as well, and this is meant to symbolize the vivacity of this atmosphere. The music is melodic, it has a steady and "upbeat" tempo to it—the Latin salsa semblance it bears points to perhaps the joy and happiness the characters had in their native Columbia. With this tragic event, Mendoza and Morte demonstrate the overwhelming power that men have over the family. For instance, we see that Antonio's decision to leave his family brings forth disastrous consequences for his wife and children. They suffer emotionally and physically: Mariana weeps along with her children night and day for the emptiness in their hearts that they yearn to be filled. Additionally, they starve to the point where they become emaciated in appearance. They have to roam in the streets to beg for food, looking weathered and withered. So that is to say, they cannot support themselves alone without a man, at least not without tremendous effort. Interestingly, during this period, the interior life is now dark and dank. There is no feeling of coziness like there was at the beginning of the film. In fact, there is few furniture and few things to do. To contrast, the outer world is brighter; there is somewhat more cheer in the streets. As the protagonists collect cans through rubbish dumps and sell empanadas, they interact with Americans by speaking their native Spanish speckled with some English. And this implies the duality of their personalities: they are both Columbian and American. The use of both languages shows their attempt to assimilate. Furthermore, the music at this point marks a moment of reflection and thought for our main characters and also shows them in motion, highlighting their upward progression. All the same, behind the foil of a worthless man the directors emphasize the strength of women. Mariana epitomizes the loving and nurturing nature of a mother: She works diligently to satisfy the demands of her children, she makes sacrifice after sacrifice to see to it that her children are happy. At the same time, she manages to keep a smile before them despite the fact that the world around her is cold and judgmental. The park scene where Mariana weeps quietly with her children sleeping on her lap expresses this notion so well. She had been aborted by society. She suffers miserably, having to fend for her children. Worse yet, because she is poor and appears dirty people ascribe negative things to her and her children. However, Mariana draws strength from her children. Their future and its success motivate her to keep going. She reminds me of the character, Tita, from the novel Como Agua Para Chocolate; for she, too, struggles to maintain and get to where she's going. Most of all, for both women the obstacles they face come from societal origins. Something comes in between them and their hopes and aspirations. For Tita this is represented in her mother who keeps her from love and the pleasures of marriage and for Mariana this is her inability to be understood because of linguistic, financial and cultural barriers. Entre Nos tell us that a family isn't necessarily constituted by a blood-affiliated group. Rather, it is a group who respect one another and struggle together to overcome the challenges. We as a society are a huge family. Yet what stands "between us" is our misunderstandings of one another. Our tendency to prejudge one another renders us incapable of seeing eye to eye on things and prevents us from working together for our own benefit. This is the amazing message behind the movie and for this reason I recommend it without any objections.

A gripping and powerful film

[mastiffman08 · 9/10 · 8 March 2011]

The film Entre Nos was a very powerful and gripping film about an immigrant family in America. The movie used well planned camera technique to dramatically tell the story of clawing to success in America. The movie inspired a cluster of emotions including sympathy, sadness, pity, and even anger. The emotions of pity and sadness were obvious responses to the family's struggle but some viewers even felt angry and disappointed with America for allowing this family to suffer. These viewers probably believe someone should have stepped in and saved this family from despair. The emotion I felt, however, was pride and appreciation for my country. I believe the creator of this film made this movie not to condemn this country but to show what is possible for people willing to work hard. American history is full of stories of hardship but out of this hardship usually comes achievement. A recent Chrysler commercial proclaimed that, "It's the hottest fires that make the hardest steel" referring to the struggle in Detroit and no words better fit this movie. Marianna faced multiple hardships and it made her work harder and eventually finds success. She did not give up or feel sorry for herself but she did work harder to pull her family out of the depths of suffering. Her family's story is the ultimate symbol of what this country stands for, which is allowing any person to work for their own happiness and success. Entre Nos is a perfect movie for someone wanting a reminder of why people risk it all to come to America.

Entre Nos, Anything Can Happen: A Must-See True Story With Soul-Searching Substance

[duvelian · 10/10 · 6 March 2011]

In this day and age, it is easy for one to become so busy or wrapped up in their life that they may not always think of the impoverished people in the world. This is a common shame, for those people are all important, just as we. They should be thought of much more often! I have just been fortunate enough to have taken the time to watch the movie Entre Nos. I must say, this a film that everyone should stop and see! Entre Nos truly opened my eyes to a life that I have been blind to. As if walking like a zombie on the streets, I did not see the woes of poverty. Although there was little dialogue and a lack of plot, there still remained substance to the film. The touching, and true, story of the film was based on the life of Paola Mendoza. Mendoza's honest script and clever directing produced a movie that almost made me cry! That's right: Paola Mendoza wrote, directed, and starred in her film Entre Nos. This is one amazing Colombian woman, and her tale is no less extraordinary than her accomplishments. For in Entre Nos, the truth is the plot and that spoke volumes.

The 2009 film Entre Nos was written, directed, and starred Paola Mendoza. It is a brilliant película dramática that shows audiences the hardships of a life of poverty. Set and filmed on the streets of New York, Entre Nos reveals the secret to survival. Mendoza really captured the importance of family, her family, on film. I was fascinated by watching Mendoza portray her mother, Mariana, since she was really Andrea, Mariana's daughter, in real life. What a Borges-ian spin to the story! This allowed me to try to look at her story from both point of views, that of her mother and her own. The strength in the family's relationship is clearly exhibited throughout this entire film! It was inspiring to see! I tried to imagine what my family would be like in Mendoza's situation. I can only hope we would be as strong and able for each other! Nonetheless, Mendoza's theme of love, family, and endurance was made more powerful by her understanding and first-hand account of her experience. These combined, affected me greatly as a viewer.

I would first like to praise Mendoza and the other director/screenwriter, Gloria La Morte, on their portrayal of the film's setting. Their choice of barrenness and hard concrete scenery created a bleak atmosphere. As the family slept on newspapers on the cold, dark subway stairs, I felt as though I were next to them. With this illusion of vulnerability, I felt a closeness with the characters. It pained me to see such a struggle and heartache. Both the interior life and the outer world the director portrayed created a perception of sorrow. The interior life of the home was made with darker lighting and provided a cozier, safe atmosphere. There was not much to the interior but it was shades of gray, colorless. I feel that this gave the home life a look of pain and sorrow, like the emotions the characters were having. The home life always looked like it was missing something, something happy. The outer world was created with bright, sunny lighting yet bare, colorless surroundings. There was nothing but pavement, trash, and buildings. Well, not as much trash as one would think. The outer world was gray as well, yet the director put in intentional spots of color! For instance, the scene where Mariana is sitting outside the new apartment and the doors beside either side of her were colored a bright, emerald green. It was as if the director was trying to show the light of hope that seemed to keep Mariana going. Even though Mariana had times when she got really sad, she still kept going for her kids. I believe that is what the random, bright colors represent in the film. There was a certain emptiness to the home life that changed by the end of the movie, as Mariana's situation brightened with their surroundings. To see that day actually come was actually satisfying!

After recognizing the depth to the surroundings, I must talk about the story itself! Paola Mendoza, Sebastian Villada, and Laura Montana gave compelling performances portraying Mendoza's past through the eyes of her mother, Mariana. The film takes place when their small Latin American family had just moved to the United States and was deserted by the father and liar/cheater of a husband. The mother, Mariana, is forced to find work and support her two children in a world that can't even communicate with her. It was an excellent choice to have the entire film in Spanish, with intermittent conversations carried out in two languages. The effect of the conversations carried out in two languages at once was one of confusion. I felt that this was to show the barrier that lies in communication between different nationalities. This barrier also represents the barrier that is between Mariana in poverty and the life she could have if she were home in Colombia or if she were an English-speaking American. That would be hard: to be starving and not be able tell someone who could help! The tight family of three overcomes grave poverty by sticking together, keeping up hope, and working hard, selflessly for the ones they love. Truly inspiring!

I would like to recommend this film, Entre Nos, to anyone and everyone! I believe that this story of hope, perseverance, the bonds of family, and love should be shared with everyone in one's life. Of course, the fact that it is all in Spanish may make one shy to view it. Let it not! One should witness this struggle and triumph over poverty, if they have not yet experienced it themselves! It is good for your soul. Broaden your horizons, even though it takes place on your own doorstep everyday!

Insufferable

[axapvov · 1/10 · 13 February 2018]

Overly sentimental, poorly written and acted, an infamous stereotype of a naive poor latina who refuses to learn two words in english and speaks spanish to all the locals, a passive accumulation of misfortunes, a constant soft guitar and piano soundtrack over mechanical and manipulative events, a sudden and detached outcome... mediocre, uninteresting, unbearably soft film-making. It lightly scratches the surface of the human drama and adds absolutely nothing to the issue, other than clichés and common places.

This is a terrible movie, so dreadful that the short running time feels like an eternity. The scarce lifting moments are painfully lame and powerless, as dreadful as everything else. Paola Mendoza´s acting is just bad and the fact she´s turning this script into a novel makes me think the worse. I´d rather watch "El Norte" over and over. This is the worst film about immigration I´ve ever seen. It might even be the only bad one since the nature of the issue is so important it usually allows movies to be relevant on all levels. "Entre Nos" is a complete failure with a shameless presumptuous title.

A true story that is far too commonly taking place

[rachelbh32 · 9/10 · 24 May 2011]

The story told in "Entre nos" is one that crosses cultures around the world therefore resulting in a gripping and heart-wrenching movie. A mother of two is reunited in Queens, New York with her husband. Mariana and her kids are new to the United States from Colombia and speak barely any English and therefore Mariana has not established herself as a self-sufficient individual and thus her family relies entirely upon her husband to support their family. However, he takes off for Miami in search of a job, insisting upon leaving Mariana behind with the children. It takes a depressing and anger-engendering amount of time for her husband to decide he no longer wants to be anchored by the burden of his family, and ceases to send money to his wife and children. Soon they are evicted and forced to sleep in parks and dumpster diving for cans to earn enough money everyday for food.

The remarkability of Mariana's story is her bravery and the unwavering love she shows her children and her oldest child shows her. Forgiveness and patience toward each other comes easily amidst some of the most trying of circumstances imaginable for a family. The characters in this movie are ones worth emulating, and there is an abundance of loving traits audiences can and ought to garner from the story.

A Truly Haunting and Moving Film

[john-khoa-tran · 9/10 · 7 March 2011]

Entre Nos shows a haunting and eye-opening depiction of living as a poor immigrant in America. The film is shown from the perspective of Mariana, the mother of two children. She fights through poverty, moral struggles, and heartache. For example, her husband leaves her and the kids at New York to fend for themselves while he starts a new life in Miami. This event triggers the future events of the film.

As the film progresses, the viewer sees the family slip deeper and deeper into poverty. The family's clothes become mangled and dirty because the family is homeless for some parts of film. The pain that is seen from Mariana becomes difficult to watch as the movie keeps going. The viewer may start feeling discomfort and sadness from watching the family sacrifice their lifestyle and safeties they had. The film further shows the struggles that immigrants have in the US in adjusting to culture and finding opportunities to work. Mariana spends weeks trying to find a job and developing skills necessary needed to work. Her lack of work experience and the father leaving show a fight to survive and succeed similar to The Pursuit of Happiness.

The acting by the children in the movie is fantastic. While many child actors may come off as cheesy and playful, the performances by Sebastian Villada and Laura Montana come across as sincere and realistic. They are forced to act as children who must grow up and become responsible which they do marvelously.

Overall, this movie is superbly well done. Paola Mendoza does a great job depicting her mother's story to provide for her children. Anyone hoping to see a different perspective of poverty on a misunderstood minority group must see this film. Entre Nos will inspire and haunt you at the same time.

A New Way of Looking At Immigration

[fashionista629 · 8/10 · 6 March 2011]

Entre Nos provides a completely different perspective on immigration. Being based on a true story about the director, main actress and writer's (all the same person) family, you begin to wonder where American's get their ideas about immigration form. When most Americans think about immigration these days they think of people stealing jobs and depending on their taxes for the immigrant's children to go to school. However, this movie offers an almost disturbing alternative to this cushy life American's picture. Between the abortion, the trash collecting, the father leaving the family behind and all these other horrible events, it's hard to look at immigration in that light.

In the beginning, we are introduced to a Latino family from Colombia that seems pretty happy together in New York City. They have food to spare, friends over for dinner, clean clothing and a roof over their head, but when the father leaves you know he's not going to come back, and with him, he takes away the stability that the family has been depending on. There's not any food, clothing or even a place to sleep at night soon after he leaves.

During this time there is only trash and bleak surroundings that are gross and dangerous. The lighting is harsh on the screen and brings out shadows in not only their surroundings, but their faces, and helps add to the overbearing grimness in the film. Not to mention the sad tune playing in the background, but the thing that makes this film all too real to the audience has to be the expressions on the actors/actresses faces and the way they are dressed. The tired, pained and hungry expressions that you find in all of the faces is so real this almost seems more like a documentary than an art-house film. Then there's the clothes that they're wearing are filthy and covered in dirt, and just hanging off of them. Their belongings are small and mostly hold no real significance. Other than the family photo that the son keeps in his pocket to remember the times when his father was around.

This was a great movie about survival, and I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to watch a heart-wrenching film for a good cry. I'd even recommend it to anyone that thinks that immigration is some life of luxury, in order to see an alternative point of view.

Entre Nos is a film that deals with struggles and hope

[BlueBerry72 · 8/10 · 7 March 2011]

Entre Nos brings out sadness, happiness and anger in its viewers. Entre Nos is a film that will automatically capture the audience and leave them wanting more. It shows how immigrants have a hard time in the United States. The film gives the viewers a look on what it's like to be a single Mom, and all the struggles a single Mom has to go through just to protect her children. Mariana is a superwoman to her children. She is a fighter and an independent woman that knows how to keep going even when things get rough.

Entre Nos was directed by Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza both women also wrote the film as well. This is very important because this film is about Paola Mendoza's grandmother. This also is a film about all the struggles immigrants have when living in a foreign country. Yet, at the same time showing what single Moms have to go through when raising their kids alone. This film has gotten positive reviews, shown at 14 film festivals and won many awards. This is important because it shows how important and touching the film was to many viewers who have seen it, also showing how serious it is for an immigrant living in the U.S.

The characters in the film Mariana, Gabi and Andrea deal with living in the United States as immigrants. It's not easy for Mariana when she has to live in a country where no one speaks Spanish. One specific scene where it shows the affects of people who speak two different languages and tries to carry a conversation is when Joe sent Mariana and her kids to a motel. Mariana was saying, "I can't pay you tomorrow but I can pay you tomorrow." The woman could not understand what Mariana was trying to say, and they almost ended up not having a place to stay. This is symbolic of how difficult it can be when two different languages collide. It also shows how tough Marian has it. One thing about Mariana is that she reminds me of both Tita and Mama Elena in the film Like Water for Chocolate. When Mariana is telling her kids what to do and demanding them to tell her where they are going when leaving, she is just like Mama Elena because of the authority in her voice and all her demands. She is like Tita because she hugs her kids and tells them she loves them. Tita has done that with her niece, nephew, and some of her sisters. Mama Elena has never done that with her kids.

The performance in this film was extremely well done by Paola Mendoza. Throughout the film the viewer can see and feel her emotions. Paola Mendoza's strength came out in this film especially in the scene when Mariana, Gabi and Andrea had to sleep at the park. The way Paola Mendoza was holding them in her lap and looking down on them showed how protective a mother is when it comes to their children. When the camera zoomed into her face you can see the emotions in her facial expressions. Paola Mendoza did a powerful job displaying how strong single Moms are when taking care of their children.

The lighting in the film gave it a more realistic feel. The lighting was symbolic of safety and protection for Mariana and her two children. In certain scenes there were over-head lights being used. The same scene I mentioned above when Mariana was looking down at her children had the light shining above Mariana's head symbolizing that the viewer should mostly focus on her. I felt the light was symbolic of Mariana being her kid's savior and superwoman. She protects them and keeps them safe. Another scene that used overhead lighting was when they were sleeping on the stairs. The lighting keeps them safe. It also makes them look pathetic because they are sleeping on the stairs looking worn out.

The wardrobe in the film represented the characters lifestyle. When Mariana, Gabi and Andrea were homeless, their clothing became dirty looking. When they made enough money to support themselves their wardrobe was nicer looking. The clothing they wore when they were homeless created sadness for the audience and sympathy for them. When they weren't struggling anymore the wardrobe they wore created happiness for the audience.

The film did have faults. One thing I noticed was that in one scene when Mariana, Gabi and Andrea first met Joe, Gabi was able to tell his Mom everything Joe said when she couldn't understand. However, when they went to the motel, Gabi couldn't tell his Mom what the lady that worked there was saying. If he can speak English why couldn't he speak for his Mom? That part confused me because I thought since Gabi understood what Joes was saying and was able to translate for him maybe he could do the same for the woman that worked at the motel. Then she could understand what Mariana was trying to say.

I thought the film was well directed, acted and written. Paola Mendoza really brought to light what its like for an immigrant to live in the U.S. I love how more realistic this film was compared to Like Water for Chocolate. As a matter a fact, the audience can relate to this film. Everything that happened with Mariana and her children working to support themselves is realistic. Like Water for Chocolate was more about magical realism. I would recommend the film to any single moms who are struggling just like Mariana because the film might bring them encouragement to not giving up. I think immigrants would find the film to be interesting. The viewers will not be disappointed with all the emotions that go on in the story because they get the best of both worlds and different moods from this film which is hope, sadness and happiness.

a true gem

[eschwiet · 6 March 2011]

Entre Nos is a masterpiece, seamlessly blending alluring artwork with empowering scenes of the harshest realities.

The relationship between mother and child is portrayed with persistent vigor and extremely uplifting. After being abandoned by her husband and the father of her two young children, Columbian native Mariana (radiantly played by Paola Mendoza) is forced to fight for survival in the large, ruthless city of New York with practically nonexistent English skills.

The family dynamics are enviable; their little family is heartwarming and charismatic. Mariana shines as a mother despite her tragic setbacks, and is depicted in one particular "La Pieta" scene as the Virgin Mother Mary, arguably symbolizing the directors' (fantastically enough also Paola Mendoza) assertion about mothers, and that they are angels of the Lord.

An unfortunate confliction with Mariana's solidity as a mother is found in an unexpected pregnancy that she has little choice but to terminate. Her situation is so miserable and her character so lovable that this heartbreaking conclusion seems only right.

Though the movie lacks an overall plot and dialogue, the artistic aspect of the film is lustful to the viewer and it maintains a constant tug on the heartstrings. The ending of the film swings the viewer's emotions to the other side of the pendulum, filling hearts with overwhelming warmth and joy.

Paola Mendoza's remarkable compilation of her captivating, true story (she is the young daughter Andrea in 'real life'), her knack for art and film directing, and her stunning performance as Mariana adds such charm that the entirety of this gem almost feels too good to be true.

Overwrought, sentimental tripe ...

[wolfybaby2001 · 2/10 · 2 May 2012]

This film is an insult to the intelligence of anyone who grew up Colombian in New York City. The rest of you can wallow in the 'grittiness" and the 'emotion' of the film, but those of us who have lived the immigrant experience, especially the Colombian one in New York, would find this nothing more than overwrought, sentimental tripe.

Not to say this didn't, or couldn't happen; but if two young children are suddenly homeless, while surrounded by their fellow countrymen, (Jackson Heights at one time had the highest concentration of Colombians in the nation) in the greatest, richest, most generous city in the world, and the best their mother can do for them is make them sleep in a park and force them into child labor collecting trash, then let's just say they didn't exactly win the lottery when it came having a mother. Any modern immigrant would watch this in disbelief seeing that this deserving mother was not availing herself our social safety net. "But she didn't speak English, and was brand new in the country!", you say ....

Oh please !!! No Colombian immigrant, especially by the eighties or nineties when this movie supposedly takes place, steps into this country without having a support network of family and friends ready, willing, and able to lend a hand, or guide them to the proper services should the need arise.

I do not say this lightly. I am Colombian and grew up in Queens in the sixties and seventies. My own family had tough times; we were even left homeless and destitute in the early seventies when we survived a horrific car crash that left my father hospitalized for a year.

Family, friends, neighbors, even total strangers rallied to our cause. In our case, it was the Church, in the form of Catholic Charities, who provided for us, and got us over the toughest time of our lives.

Enjoy the movie for the acting and the sentiment, but if you think you've seen 'reality' ... well then, you're probably beyond hope anyway.

The most real thing in the movie was the empanada making ... try them! .... they really are DELICIOUS!!!!

A Film of Raw Emotion and Real Struggles

[brittybits · 9/10 · 6 March 2011]

For a person who enjoys dramas that evoke the rawest of emotions, this was of course a true example. I appreciate experiencing the emotions of characters of whom deal with the most excruciating circumstances. That is what is so great about watching a real film that contains life's most prominent difficulties: taking care of yourself, keeping a family together, and overcoming obstacles.

Mariana, the mother of Gabriel and Andrea, is an exemplification of what any mother, or parent for that matter, should do for their children. She made sacrifices for her children so that they might still enjoy the pleasures of being a child, even if they were living on the streets. We see Mariana sit on the sidewalk while her kids go see a movie. She sometimes did not eat so that Gabriel and Andrea could instead.

It would have been very easy in this situation for her to abandon the children just as Antonio had; however, she did everything possible in order to care for them. Even though the family suffered financially, there was no lack in the love and support they showed for one another. Gabriel took it upon himself to help collect cans early in the morning. He helped care for Andrea and he shared the emotional despair that his mother felt over losing her husband. Gabriel and Andrea shine throughout the film regardless of the lack of essentials in their lives.

Even though Mariana could no longer trust her husband, and no doubt had trouble trusting other people, she found help in Preet, her landlord in the very cheap building the family rented. Nevertheless, Mariana struggles with being pregnant and yet acts as if nothing is in the way of caring for her kids.

It has been noted that the image of Mariana on the park bench with Gabriel and Andrea in her lap is comparable to the sculpture of The Pieta by Michaelangelo. Of course, Mariana is much like Mary, the mother of Jesus. They even share similar names. She mourns for her children just as Mary did for Jesus' death.

Entre Nos shows the overcoming of an epic struggle against poverty, language barriers, family complications, and so on. At the end of the film, we know that the family has overcome these when we see their faces shining with smiles and their presentable appearances. When Gabriel states on his first day of school that he "spent his first summer in the United States of America," we know that he is content and proud to be there.

This film fulfills many common phrases such as, "you don't know what you have until it's gone" or "appreciate what you have." It is true though. It reminds us that love and strength are most important at the end of the day. It shows that sacrifices are not real unless the ones we love most are thought of more than ourselves.

The victory between them.

[bethanyc311 · 8/10 · 6 March 2011]

Entre Nos, or "Between Us" is an inspiring story about a family of three struggling to survive in Queens, New York. After the children's irresponsible and cowardly father leaves the family and goes to Miami, life takes a drastic turn for the family who speaks almost no English, are illegal immigrants, and face obstacle after obstacle.

Paola Mendoza write, starred in, and directed the movie and did so wonderfully. I believe the fact that she starred in the film was extremely important considering the story is based on actual events of which she endured as a child. The heartfelt passion of her acting truly shines through.

For several months, all the family has to reply for comfort is each other. There are many sleepless nights outdoors. When they do find a place to stay, it must be in their extremely small budget. The family has each other and that's about it. Mariana (Paulo) is an extremely strong-willed and passionate mother. Her children might be dirty, a bit hungry, and sick of the situations through which they are going, but she always makes sure they are okay before she checks on herself even if it's just by making them laugh and forget about what's going on for a moment. The two children who starred in the film are brilliant. One would believe that they themselves actually were going through this and secretly being filmed.

Finally, Mariana's son, Gabi gets to attend school. He gets a real childhood after all that they've been through. This is symbolizing the re-birth of this family because not only is it giving him back his youth, it is a new beginning for him and showing that the family is starting their new beginning as well.

While some parts of the film were hard to watch, it is important that people see them. There are many issues addressed in the film that are relatable in some way by most people. These scenes are brought out with color and music making them suck the audience in. Since the film appeals mostly to one's emotions, it is a great and dramatic film that may leave the audience feeling a new way about many of the issues that are being addressed. It's more than meets the eye. This film gives us the insider's view.

Between us means to me that this is a film that is between the three family members who, with each other, made it. It was their little secret. It was their mission. It was ultimately their victory.

This is a really tough movie to watch, especially if u came from humble beginnings

[peter-ortiz2012 · 8/10 · 6 January 2013]

This movie is low budget, no known actors, no big advertising ...or any for that matter....and it's absolutely great!

yes it's sad, even seemingly tragic. I grew up very poor and it was really tough for me to watch because it made me relive a time of my life when I was a kid that I just rather forget. It's believable because stuff like this actually happens all the time everyday.

You find yourself saying "oh no, don't go there" or " Oh no what are they going to do now?" a lot in this movie. Just when you think things are getting better...something else goes wrong. At times you just find yourself telling the TV ..... "no don't that!"

It really is worth a watch. lucky for me I know Spanish so it makes it a bit better, but even if you don't it's no biggie. If you 're a "real" movie fan, this is a must see.

A mother and her two children struggle on the streets of Queens New York. They lose everything but they end up succeeding in life at the end.

[xoscubaox42 · 9/10 · 5 March 2011]

Entre Nos was a very good movie. The name Entre Nos means between us in Spanish. All the hardships in the movie were between the family, and the secrets were between the family and the audience. Paola Mendoza wrote, directed, and starred in the movie, which was based off of her life as a young child. The themes of family, hard work, and sacrifice are present in the movie. The whole movie was about a mother and her two children who had a hard life. They had to try to survive living on the streets with nothing. They also had to work very hard. They had to do many little jobs that were labor intensive. They did as much as they could to survive. Finally, everyone had to sacrifice something in the family. The son sacrificed school and a childhood. He group up very fast so he could help support the family. He helped make money and watch his sister. The little girl had to sacrifice comfort. Little kids need comfort and stability in their life in order to feel same. Their mother sacrificed everything for her children. She went hungry while her children ate. She stayed up at night while her children slept. She had to lose a child because she couldn't support another one. The setting of the movie is on the streets of Queens, New York. It takes place probably about a decade ago. It is a very realistic setting. There are lots of people moving walking around and the streets are crowded. Everything is dirty and kind of loud. The music sets the scenes too because the music is Latin and the scenes are in the Latin part of Queens. The costumes are very good. The characters start out clean and they have nice clothes. Then as the movie goes on the clothes become dirtier and dirtier. Their clothes are very plain. At the very end of the movie the clothes get clean and better looking again. When they get their lives together they are able to clean their clothes and they are able to get better clothes. The makeup is very natural. You can't even tell they are wearing any. They lived on the street in the movie so of course there is no reason for them to be wearing a ton of makeup. The lighting was very interesting to me. The scenes are dark at the beginning of the movie and for the most part of it. At one point the camera focuses straight down and the lighting is overhead. This scene is very powerful to me. The lighting sets kind of a sad mood. At the end of the movie the lighting starts to become lighter and happier once their situation gets better. The lighting really sets the mood for this movie. I really enjoyed this movie. It was very interesting to watch a movie about events that really happened. It was hard to watch at some points, but I loved it! This is one of the best movies I've seen! The audience for this movie is probably over the age of 18. Some events aren't appropriate for children and important things may go over their heads.

A True Story of Immigration

[princessgemmell · 10/10 · 6 March 2011]

This movie is an insightful look to the side of immigration that we, as born Americans, don't always get to see. The film is slow moving, in that it is based on a true story, but that doesn't make it any less captivating. Even though the film lacks dialog, and what dialog it has is in Spanish and subtitled, it still grips the hearts of its viewers. We are taken on an emotional roller coaster as the film follows a family's hardships during their transition to American life.

Mariana is a woman who came to America from Columbia with her husband and children. She finds herself stranded in Queens, New York, when her husband abandons the family and goes to Miami. We see the highs and lows her and her children are forced to endure. From poverty stricken and starving, to Mariana having an abortion, and finally Mariana's hard work selling her empanadas finally pays off for her and her family.

Entre Nos is the story of Paola Mendoza's mother. Paola Mendoza, who also wrote and directed the film, plays the role of Mariana, her mother. Mariana's daughter's character, Andrea, is actually Mendoza in real life. The film is a tribute to her family's accomplishments: Her mother's rise above destitution, her brother's achievement in gaining a master's level education, and her own academic achievements.

From a personal standpoint, Mendoza was able to open my eyes to how easily life can go sour for people. At the same time it also shows that if you are committed and determined enough, no matter how old you are, you can accomplish anything. I never realized how hard immigration can be for families, or how even though there is a language barrier, how messages can be conveyed. Paola Mendoza leaves out nothing in this story of family, love, tradition, and endurance. I highly recommend this film for anyone.

A film every parent should view

[cablax21 · 9/10 · 7 March 2011]

Entre Nos is the intriguing true story of a newly immigrated family from Columbia, attempting to assimilate into their new home in Queens, New York. Only being in the United States for two weeks, the father of the family leaves the family for Miami to fend for themselves. Mariana and her two children Gabriel and Andrea are left in New York City with no money and little hope. The struggle that unfolds is Entre Nos.

Not only was the acting in Entre Nos fantastic, but the directing and production was equally as well done. Every actor in this film was shown to be capable of emitting perfectly personified emotions. When making a film about such a grave subject, there are a lot of ways in which a director can go. In Entre Nos, the director takes us through the emotional roller-coaster that is Mariana's life and portrays the battle that is being a mother. This amazing story of motherhood follows Mariana and her two children around New York City as they struggle to make ends meet as immigrants in a new country.

One of the scenes that caught my attention most in Entre Nos was about two thirds of the way through the film, when, like several other times throughout the film, Mariana goes to a pay phone to call her man that has left for Miami. When she gets to the phone, instead of being tolerant like Mariana normally is, she picks the phone up and after dialing several numbers, almost instantly starts slamming the phone as hard as she can into the receiver. The other times that Mariana called him she either left a message asking him to call her, or left a very angry message. It is very significant to the film that this time she does neither of these. Mariana's frustration is depicted in this scene, and seems like this is how just about anyone would react in this situation. This scene in the film is when Mariana seems to realize that there is no way that she would consider seeing her man again, let alone moving to Miami to find him. The reason that I like this scene so much is that I find the emotions that are shown here seem to be so real. I feel that it is very difficult to capture real emotions on film, especially through actors. However, in this scene we see a perfect portrayal of real emotions. Although I have no idea how Mariana must actually feel, she does a nice job of making me think I do in this scene.

Anyone who is a parent will love this movie. Entre Nos does a magnificent job of showing the viewer not only how important mother's are to their children, but also how much of a struggle it can be to relocate a family to a new country. Mariana shows us that although money is a part of being a parent, it is clearly not the most important thing when raising children. From this film, we can see that the most important ingredient in parenting is love. We come to understand this as the film comes to a close, and we see that although Gabriel and Andrea grew up in extreme poverty, they went on to become successful and contributing members of society.

Interesting True Story about a Woman who will do anything for her children

[ashleyparsons115 · 8/10 · 6 March 2011]

Watching this movie is so inspiring. It tells the story of a young mother of two who is left by her husband just after moving to America. It takes awhile for the mother to realize the husband is never coming back to them. She is forced to live on the streets and take care of her two children all by herself. She faces many hardships and goes through so much, all for the kids. Parts of it are rather sad because you really get a view of how much the family struggled to get where they are. They are forced to give up so much, even the children. They all stick together because they are family and they truly love one another.

This movie is written, directed and starring Paola Mendoza. It is interesting because this story is about her life. In the movie she takes on the role of the mother (her real life mother) but she is actually the young woman's daughter in the film, Andrea. It makes the movie so much better in my opinion because you know while you are watching that all the of events that happen are pretty accurate. The emotions that shows throughout the movie really give it the sense that you know it is real. She does a great job acting in this movie! It made me want to see more of her work.

Now you must know before watching this movie that there is very little plot and not a lot of dialog. However it is still an interesting movie to watch. Much of what happens you don't need words to see what is happening. In this case, actions speak louder than words. Everything they do has such a strong impact words aren't necessary. The plot is also a little on the weak side since not a lot is happening, but that is because it is based on true life. The rest of the events in the movie make up for the lack of plot.

This movie is shown in Spanish with English subtitles. It isn't very hard to follow along however. Also the lighting of the movie is very dark but it really gives you a feel for how their life truly is. Overall the director did a good job at making the movie seem realistic. It is easy to follow along as long as you don't mind reading the subtitles.

A movie filled with family, tradition, trust, love and survival, this one is definitely worth watching. You will see just how hard it is for immigrants to adjust and live in America. You can't help but feel bad for them. After it is over you will have a better understanding of how hard life can be for everyone, it has a good message to send out.

Traumatic Circumstances in the Every Day Life

[hannaleann · 9/10 · 6 March 2011]

Entre Nos is a graphic portrayal of a struggling family who has immigrated to America. Trauma is the common thread woven throughout this film; it seems as if nothing goes right for Mariana and her children. Paola Mendoza does an excellent job exposing the difficulties that her grandmother faced when she came to the United States. The audience sees that good can come from an awful and heartbreaking situation. Mariana's husband, after we see him using a prostitute, leaves her and her children and unborn baby for Miami. The audience immediately grieves with Mariana and the slow music emphasizes the state of depression. When the family is forced to roam the streets harsh lighting is used on the characters to show the condition that the family is in. The camera usually shows the picture straight on with no angle or other techniques used. This is done to emphasize the "realness" of the story. The audience also completely pities Mariana and is almost forced to think about what they would do in that situation. The Latin culture is woven throughout different parts of the movie; this is mainly accomplished by the Latin music in the background. Other Latin influences in the movie were the Catholic Church and the Latin-American women in the food truck. The scene where Mariana has an implied abortion is extremely difficult to watch as a viewer. Thankfully, the director did not go so far as to show everything, but as a warning, it will be particularly upsetting. When Gabi, the boy, tells his new classmates what he did over the summer, it causes a variety of emotions. In one way, the audience is sad because of the reality that this was his first summer, and it was a nightmare, but, on the other hand, the audience laughs because of the irony of it all. We see that the family does eventually make a better life for themselves after persevering and finding some work. This movie might appeal to those interested in studying immigration or those interested in social work because of the extensive amount of reality that is shown in the film. I am glad I was able to watch it for knowledge that I gained about immigrants in America, but I would never voluntarily watch this type of painful movie. Overall, this movie deals with a traumatic circumstance that many still struggle with today and encourages the viewers to understand the reality that happens around them every day.

Realistic drama that depicts human survival

[LaurAsh988 · 8/10 · 6 March 2011]

Entre Nos is not a movie that I would have normally chosen to watch on my own but I thoroughly and truly enjoyed it. Although it was not in my own native language, the subtitles made up for that. Paola Mendoza does a wonderful job as both the director and main actress, playing the mother of two young children. After moving to the United States, Mariana and her children take on a number of hardships. They make due by doing menial jobs and eventually finding a place to live after having been evicted from their apartment.

This movie exemplifies the problems that people who move to the United States face. Moving to a country where one does not understand the language in any form, written or spoken. Entre Nos also shows what can happen when one's world falls out beneath them and one has to start from essentially nothing. When things do not seem as if they cannot get any worse, they do, and when the viewer wonders how this mother, Mariana, can go on, she manages to.

There is not a lot of dialogue in this movie but that is more than made up for by the scenery and use of the camera. When the family is forced out of their home, there is a scene on a stairway where they sleep. There is light shining down on them and Mariana does her best to protect her children. The use of light in this scene allows it to say so much without any dialogue whatsoever.

The best thing that can be said about this movie is its depiction of the perseverance of human beings. For what I am assuming was a low budget movie, it is done remarkably well. Mariana makes the best of the situation that she is placed in and she does this the best way that she knows how to at the time. Some of her decisions might be viewed as selfish by some but everything that she does is to protect her children and do right by them at the time. Entre Nos is a movie that showcases what happens if you do not let your situation define who you are and what you will become as a person. It is not a sugarcoated and is a bit dark at times so if one is sensitive to certain parts of life they should take caution before viewing but they would be missing out as it is a movie that is worth watching.

Real life in America

[Stickney09 · 9/10 · 6 March 2011]

The film Entre Nos is an amazing portrayal of the love of a real family. In the film Mariana is left by her husband, with her two children after being in America for only a few weeks. The film shows the struggles the family faces, until they are back on their feet. The lighting, music, and camera angles make a large effect on the film. The emotion you feel as an audience and the love of a family are very important aspects of Entre Nos. This film shows the audience a side of life they many have never seen.

Entre Nos is a film with very little dialog, so most of the story is told through emotions. To enhance the emotion, lighting, camera angles, and music are very important. Most of the lighting during the film is dark, indicating how unsafe or unhappy the time is for the family. Throughout the film the camera often zooms into Mariana's face showing the tears welling in or eyes or the sickness coming across her face. The camera often starts in close then zooms out. I think the close camera angles allow you as a viewer to really look at Mariana and make and emotion connection with her. Lastly, the music playing throughout the film is a director indicator of the overlying feeling during a specific scene. These three factors made the movie great and were a main reason the film was successful in connecting with the audience.

The title Entre Nos means between us. The film was written, directed, and starred in by Columbian, Paola Mendoza. I think the "between us" is the relationship between the movie and the audience. I believe the film was created to show Americans the life of illegal citizens trying to make it in America. Mendoza connects with the audience through emotion. With little dialog the audience must pay attention closely to the nonverbal cues the actors make. Mariana does not cry often throughout the film, but you see the anguish on her face and disappointment for letting her family become this way. Mendoza draws her audience in through her wonderful characters.

The greatest part of the film is the love you see from the family. Through all of the struggles and hardships they never give. I believe Mariana shows what a real mother is like and although they are not living the good life, they portray the true love of a family. Never once did Mariana give up hope. I think the affection she shows to her children throughout the whole movie shows that hope is never lost.

Entre Nos is an amazing film that shows the real part of life. Although at times it was almost uncomfortable to watch, the film made me think of issues that have previously never crossed my mind. I loved the emotion it made me feel and the connections I made with the characters. Entre Nos was an unexpected success in my book!