Paraiso Travel

Directed By: Simon Brand

A cheap hostel: we have a bird’s eye view of a series of rooms divided by thin partitions.  As the camera pans overhead, each tiny area is a new setting for a mini-portrait of the lives of its inhabitants.  We witness a wide range of activities, the only common links being that they are all representative of human nature in some way, and that the goings-on are anything but mundane.

It’s in this series of brief vignettes that the opening credits are integrated.

Immediately, Simon Brand’s capacity for creating compelling imagery is evident- sharpened in no small part during his experience directing music videos. Another prominent aspect of the music video is how quickly the action begins, and for his first feature, Brand wastes no time dropping the audience into the world of the newly immigrated- a world where teenage lovers Reina (Angelica Blandon) and Marlon (Aldemar Correa), struggle to find their footing. Reina decides to leave Columbia behind in pursuit of the American dream, and Marlon does so in pursuit of- well, Reina.

When the two are separated, Marlon begins a relentless search in which he encounters a variety of vibrant (often oddball) personalities that at times teeter on the edge of stock were it not for clearly defined personal objectives that are believably played by a talented cast. John Leguizamo is a riot as Roger, a seedy but strangely endearing S&M enthusiast with a speech impediment who Marlon crashes with for a time. And Ana de la Reguera gives a noteworthy, sensitive performance as the lovely Milagros, a singer who wins Marlon’s affections for a time.

Marleah Martin

Indeed, Paraiso Travel is very much character-driven, and what should be noted is how effectively each of its components always serves to heighten whatever the characters are experiencing at a given moment. In a visually striking chase scene, Marlon’s terror and confusion are captured with bleak, de-saturated cinematography as the camera jerkily staggers after him through a raw and wintry urban landscape, accompanied by nerve-jangling percussive beats.  Flashing back to Reina and Marlon in happier times, the two are bathed in soft, warm light as they sensually circle each other within a steadier frame.

These factors- being swiftly pulled in, introduced to characters we can empathize with, with their emotional states enhanced through the visual and aura components- add up to a significant personal investment during the film, making Paraiso Travel’’s message about immigration all the more powerful. This may be the most moving cinematic portrayal so far of the horrifying conditions Latin American immigrants are faced with when illegally crossing borders, and the hardships endured once they reach their destination. In the end, was it worth it? In Marlon’s case, despite a sense of disenchantment towards the American dream that resurfaces time and again, he nonetheless gains a stronger sense of self than he ever could have imagined. And the fortitude he needs to reach that point inspires not only a better understanding for the choices he makes, but also intense admiration- for him, and for the countless immigrants his story was based upon.

Marleah Martin