Reviewing the film Sin Nombre for this course, I started to see the film in a different light than I had previously. There was an element to each character that I had not recognized before and their significance to the film grew, whether they were present for a short duration or not. For instance, the scene that I chose to focus on this week occurs towards the middle of the film when Lil Mago kills Martha Marlen after she rejects his sexual advances.
In this scene, the complexity of El Casper's character is visibly displayed through his emotional breakdown when Lil Mago informs him that the devil took Martha Marlen. In an effort to remain loyal to both the Mara Salvaturcha gang he is a member of and to his deceased girlfriend, El Casper begins to show a tether of emotions that parallels the tether between youth and adulthood. Throughout the entire film El Casper is put into positions and scenarios that require him to engage in things that strip away his ability to live as a teenager. Murder, theft, and a life of crime place adult responsibilities onto El Casper, or Willy as he identifies with outside of his gang. Yet, when he discovers that Marth Marlen has been murdered, he retreats to responding with emotions that remove him from this falsified adult persona he lives.
Although this scene is reflective of the character dynamics between Lil Mago, Martha Marlen, and El Casper, it's key in understanding the other characters of the film and the various elements each possess. For example, Smiley mirrors the struggle between child and adult that El Casper goes through, by dealing with initiation into the gang and taking on the responsibilities of murder. In Smiley's character structure, the introduction of his younger, playground friends emphasizes just how young he really is.
Age typically directs the behaviors and mentalities of individuals as the development of cognition and identity pair with the various stages of maturation. However, Sin Nombre proves that the varying degrees of growing up are conflicted with the tragic reality of a membership in a violent gang such as the Mara Salvaturcha. Instead of playing with his friends on the jungle gym, Smiley is showing off a gun he intends to kill El Casper with. Rather than enjoy the time spent with his girlfriend and express the proper mourning of her death, Willy, is forced to live within the dark identity he embodies when he is El Casper. The internal tether each character harbors creates an on-screen demonstration of the destructive elements that arise when they are fighting with who they are and who they are expected to be.
I think that Sin Nombre explores the tensions discussed in my blog in an excellent way, yet I wish there would have been more opportunities for each character to spend time with the other self away from the crime or hardships that life presents to each individual character. From El Casper to Lil Mago, Smiley to Sayra, El Sol to Marth Marlen, created for Sin Nombre deal with a tether, whether it is with youth, relationships, poverty, traveling, escaping death, sexuality, or being a part of something at the expense of themselves.
Hey Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThe “three most important rules to friendship are honesty, respect and generosity.” None of which are show by La’Mago when he tries to rape Marlene, Casper’s girlfriend. He personally punishes Casper for lying to him by assaulting his girlfriend and accidentally killing her. Because Casper lied to the gang, he was beaten. This does not show any respect. In the gang, what one person “owns,” all of them “own.” Casper tries very hard to keep Marlene way from this type of “generosity” within the gang. Gangs hold their honor and specific set of rules highly. However, this scene shows the fractures within their process and the consequences it has on a person conflicted between two worlds. Your analysis of the inner conflict each of the characters face is apparent throughout the film.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you on the discussion of childhood/adulthood themes that this movie represents. It is difficult to live a childhood of innocence and fun when you grow up in an area where gangs is all that you know, and therefore look forward to. The fact that Smiley had to kill another human being at such a young age shows how starting the young off early and experiencing them to death, is what makes them grow into men quicker. Gangs do not want wimpy boys to beat up other gangs, they want men who can kill other gangs.
Sin Nombre represents a lost childhood for the youth, including characters you would not even consider, such as Sayra, who now has to take on the responsibility of living with her father's other family and helping them out so that she does not appear as a burden; Martha, who is murdered before she even has a chance to experience what adulthood is like; and even the child that Lil Mago cradles in the beginning, whom will never know his father and will more than likely be raised by other gang members and grow up to be rebellious and vengeful for his father.
I rather enjoy the fact you chose to follow the tether that links how the characters of Sin Nombre react in terms of their age status. I feel like it brings another read to the film. It becomes more about the ideas of coming of age as much as it does about the idea of immigrant travel.
ReplyDeleteBy picking the scene of Casper's girlfriend's rape and death and the aftermath provides a start for character analysis. I also enjoy that you brought in the dialogue as well. By Mago saying “The devil” stole Martha we see how he acts. Its quite funny that Mago's face tattoos have devil horns adding to the symbolism, that he is a devil in human form who twists the lines between adult and teen. I think you did a great job explaining this.
I enjoyed reading your blog. you really take the time out to flesh out this theme in the film of growing up before your time. I think the scene that Willy finds out his girlfriend is dead is the scene that shows just how young he is to have a bit o humanity left in him. He is still capable of feelings of love, compassion and pain whereas Mago and the other members seem completely numb to these things. I love how you pointed out just how young Smiley is by using the scene where he shows off his gun to his friend. This scene shows just how awful it is that Smiley is this desperate to grow up because he feels he can survive.
ReplyDeleteWilly should be spending worry-free time with his girlfriend. Smiley should be playing with his friends like a kid. The gang completely robs the two of their childhood.
I agree with the points you made. I also believe the pivotal moment for Willy was when Martha Marlen died. I think he realized at that point how it feels to have bad things happen ti someone and to kill people for no reason is senseless. It makes me believe he not only kiled Lil Mago because he killed Marta Marlen but also because he did it for the benefit of everyone. You mentioned that age played an important role and I see how Willy matured out of the gang life. Smiley was a nice contrast as growing into the gang life. It would have been interesting, as you said, to see how each character developed further.
ReplyDelete