Latin-American Studies

One of the best crime thrillers of 1993 Blood In, Blood Out, directed by Taylor Hackford, movie is an immense panorama of the futility and anarchy that grips lives of youths in an environment of extreme racism in Barrios of East Los Angels. As the movie starts, we are introduced to three cousins Paco, Cruz and Miklo who have grown up just like real brothers. One of the brothers Miklo is going to join other two in a gang called as Vatos Loco, in other words crazy guys. Members of this gang do all the mad and crazy acts but they do everything which is within their limit but one day all three guys break the law resulting in Cruz with a broken leg, Paco being forcibly sent to join United States Marine Corps as a form of punishment while Miklo faces conviction and is sent to the San Quentin State Prison. Whole story revolves around Miklo and his endeavors in the gang as he murders one of the persons, leads the gang in illegal gambling and faces racism and differential attitude because of his white skin as well as blue eyes.

We can see movie coming alive behind the bars with all the blacks, browns, and whites within their own groups striving to make their place and maintain their identity. They fight with each other but at the same time enjoy too. They are burly convicts sporting tattoos with the size of head. Hackford has a keen insight into the melodramatic nasty activities of the breathing souls behind bars. As Miklo is agonized by his mixed heritage, he finally takes over the leadership of La Honda. Movie is so powerful that we can feel inner forces at play and the outer forces dissecting the whole personality and inner instincts. In just three hours, Hackford has shown the epic of the inner city with its power to cause damage to the inner psychology on one hand while with the power to heal too on the other hand. Story starts in 1972 and subsequently continues throughout 1973, 1980, 1983 and 1984. Here Hackfords intention is to show the social and emotional turmoil of youths as they find continuous shattering of their youthful passions and macho images by societal norms.

All casts in the movie keeps excitement of the viewers all time high be it Mr. Chapa, Mr. Bratt and Mr. Borrego all have excellently played their part well. Large number of supporting cast adds to the exhorting excitement with the main being Enrique Castillo, who happens to be the leader of Chicanos in San Quentin and Lanny Flaherty can be seen entering into an unfortunate bargain with Miklo. Development of three brothers takes place in a very dramatic way as a young gang member Paco experiences an event that could change his life for the better. He joins the military and when he gets up, he becomes undercover cop back home. The second brother Cruz who happens to be an artist and can become famous due to his artistic skill and fortune cannot at all give up his family life and falls itself into the world of depression. When family rejects him, he attains a new life in San Quentin, which is in fact more horrific. The story moves around the casts as they get to learn the deep meaning of revenge, family crisis and forgiveness.  

According to some critics, Blood In, Blood Out appears to be more like a visionary portrayal of an artist. Casts openly makes use of vulgar language typical of a gang members. Film has been rated R, overall it resonates with the real life as the realistic and picturesque version of youths in gangs are shown. It also juxtaposes with the real life of America which is similar and far more superior. Director has given more in depth attention to the details of the Hispanic culture showing its music and outlook presenting with great perspective about the gangs of East LA. Behind veils of the violent mannerism and hysterical outburst of the youths in their gangs, we can see them as an outcaste and depressed souls as they want to make their presence felt and create their own identity. To achieve this aim, they can go to an extreme extent of even murdering someone. Their facial expressions and movements remind us about the Buried Mirror Reflections on Spain and the New World. Written by Carlos Fuentes, it is an interesting account of the experiences faced by Latin America which explores the possibilities of pan-Latin Americanism and mentions about the way Latin Americans feel as oppressed. Carlos makes use of the words of the oppressors to give the description of the way they are oppressed and also the way they would like to achieve liberation. (Fuentes, 1992)

As contradictory to the most classical movies of the mafia-genre, the plot does not move around Americans of Italian-Sicilian descent, but of Mexican origin. So the whole cultural dynamics is different but the genre remains the same, and can easily be compared to most of the genre classics. In one of the scenes that run for 74 seconds, I can see Miklo, a protagonist is leading towards the prison and on his way he sees darkest figures looking at him with evil eyes. When he is placed in the cell, guard closes the door behind him and tells him to contact him anytime whenever he finds himself in trouble. Miklo just takes out his arm until he touches at the wall of the small cell, and feeling depressed leans against it. Though a very short scene yet it is impressive as it is a beginning of a new journey for Miklo. This scene mentally prepares us for the life now Miklo is going to lead in the prison. As he is led inside the cell and the way dark figures look at him, the shots directly shows how the darkest period of his life is going to start and most noteworthy he is not going to be welcomed by the other inmates very easily because of his multi-ethnic background. There are six shots in this 74 second scene with each shot showing from close up the conflicting state of mind of Miklo as he tries to make his way behind the bars. There is cut in the scene as Miklo is made to enter into the bar. (Hackford  Gershwin, 1993)

Whole movie is gritty in depth with many plots and sub plots intricately co joined with number of events that could leave you surprised. There are recurring themes in the plot as again and again violence takes place and we can feel recurring motif of self identity and individuality lingering behind the masks of each character as they physically abuse and bruise each other. Their frustration can be easily seen as it is taken out on others. In the whole movie, we can see grim images on one hand and brutal and languishing lives of the prisoners on the other hand. Shots are beautiful taken giving the minute details. For e.g. we can see details of the Hispanic culture through the clothes they wear, their views and outlook towards life. As the film comes to an end, a gang war ensues so the characters forge together in a common destiny. Directory Taylor Hackward chooses to end these long travails of the lives of youngsters through the racist America where they have only two choices left- either join armed forces or gangs.

The whole movie is very intriguing, touchy and emotionally driven. Without taking directly into the social causes, director makes us pass into the realm of the lives of the youngsters as they are led into the gang by the forces outside their control. This is juxtaposed by the traumatic experiences they face themselves. What makes movie interesting is the comic relief it gives in between the abuses and violence. But it is recommended children to accompany adults for watching movie. Length of the movie is fine and driven by narrative but by the individuals, lives are fleshed out. Though very violent yet if we realize the overall melodrama and the impact it creates, it is a movie worth watching.