In light of Obama’s Executive Order on immigration, Cian Doherty looks back on the Mexican film, ‘The Golden Dream’ and considers the dangerous journey made by those seeking out a better life.

President Obama caused a fuss stateside recently. His Executive Order announced sweeping plans to reform US immigration policy, shielding nearly five million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

The majority of these – about 4 million – are undocumented parents of US-born citizen children or legal permanent residents. Republicans are still seething at the news and doing everything in their power to overturn the act. They voted to block the measure, but the Senate refused to pass the veto.

The ‘Dreamers’

The move also extended a measure introduced in 2012 allowing migrants who were brought to the US illegally as children – or the ‘Dreamers’, as they are better known – to remain in the country. On hearing this, I was reminded of the Spanish-language film, ‘The Golden Dream’. I had just seen a showing of it in the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, part of the Monday night series that brings excellent ‘IFI-type’ films to the seaside suburb.

“The country accepts their illegal cheap labour, without allowing them the proper residency papers needed to rise above the faceless servant class.”

The ‘Golden Dream’ is about a group of teenagers from a squalid Guatemalan barrio attempting to make their way to the US for a better life. It is a common enough scenario in this part of the world. The Mexico-based film-maker Diego Quemada-Díez distilled the screenplay from real-life recollections of hundreds of illegal immigrants thereby adding authenticity to the action.

Given their undocumented nature, it is difficult to get an exact number of immigrants attempting this type of passage. Though it is telling that in 2013 alone there were 662,483 apprehensions by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Social Realism

Quemada-Díez cut his teeth working with Ken Loach. The British director’s influence is evident in the film’s raw realism and its committed social concerns. As the youngsters hop boxcars and ride the rails up through Mexico, they have harrowing run-ins with corrupt cops and predatory criminals. Perils like this seem to be inevitable for anyone making this kind of journey north.

“It seems servitude behind those golden bars may be around for a while longer”

The grittiness is somewhat balanced  by the warm coming of age teen-drama that sees the group bond and flirt.The young cast are are also exceptional and thoroughly deserved their award for best ensemble at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013.

Karen Martínez is especially strong as Sara/Osvaldo. In an attempt to hide her gender, the character has to tape down her breasts and cut her hair so as to avoid the risk of sexual attack.

Golden Cage

The Golden Dream’s original Spanish title is Jaula de Oro (The Golden Cage), and comes from a Mexican folk ballad of the same name. The song is about the despair of those Mexicans who make it to America but find it is a ‘golden cage’. The country accepts their illegal cheap labour, without allowing them the proper residency papers needed to rise above the faceless servant class.

Obama’s new immigration policy changes these circumstances, especially for those already living in the US who qualify. This in itself must be welcomed. His recent State of the Union address copper-fastened the situation, promising to veto any Republican bills “refighting past battles on immigration”.

That said a reprieve from deportation and active citizenship are two very different things. The Executive Order may confirm an immigrant’s legal status in the US for now, but the next president could  issue an Executive Order of their own, repealing Obama’s. Plus, having the correct documents is no guarantee of getting the right kind of work. Either way, it seems servitude behind those golden bars may be around for a while longer.

Worth the Shot?

So you have to wonder whether a chance at the American myths of  wealth and prosperity are really worth it. A few years ago I took a reverse route to the film’s, travelling down from a summer job in California to a volunteer project in the idyllic highlands town of San Cristobal De La Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. Nowhere during my time in California did I see civic initiatives like those I saw in Chiapas.

You may say that in a society as rich as the US there is no need for it. But it goes beyond economics. Opportunity is all very well, but the American emphasis on individual success at all costs surely comes at a price. Community-minded solidarity may be one such casualty.

Despite, this, the US will continue to be a magnet for impoverished Latin American ’Dreamers’ for many years to come. ‘The Golden Dream’, with all its heartbreak and grim reality, is worth watching for anyone thinking of making a similar journey. As it is for anyone with an interest in Latin America, immigration or just plain, good film-making.

Author: Cian Doherty

Cian is a Dubliner working for GOAL as a Donations Officer. He studied Arts in UCD and completed an MA in International Relations in DCU. Cian has worked overseas with UNAIDS in Malawi and has volunteered in Mexico and Mozambique.

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