Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary
Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary
| 03 March 2005 (USA)
Watch Free for 30 Days

Stream thousands of hit movies and TV shows

Start 30-day Free Trial
Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary Trailers

Filmmaker Arturo Perez Torres follows in the footsteps of two friends traveling on an extraordinary and extremely dangerous journey from Central America to North America. On their journey they encounter gangs and vigilantes as well as border patrol. But these immigrants navigate real-life nightmares with uncanny calm, grace and even humor in their perilous pursuit of the a better life.

Reviews
Matialth

Good concept, poorly executed.

Claysaba

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

InformationRap

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

View More
Dana

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

View More
lucero65

I thought this was a good documentary because it focused on immigrants from other Central American countries and not Mexico. In the U.S. we hear mostly about Mexican immigrants crossing the border. It was interesting to follow the journey of the men from Honduras. And there were many likable protagonists in the documentary. I appreciated the periodic monologues from those "leads" (to the camera) about their situation. It was also helpful that the names of the countries were indicated on the images when they were crossing borders. One could see how easy it was to cross certain borders. The description of the methods that they used to get around in certain countries and to cross the Rio Grande was well done. I did not expect so much detail. The priest offered compelling commentary and one of his anecdotes was extremely moving. I knew that Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador were quite poor, but I did not realize that there were that many people making the long trek to try to get into the US because of lack of work. Overall the personal stories were very effective and the explanation of Mexico's role in this was explained well.

View More
zenbrush

What a revealing documentary about the journey of 'undocumented' migrant workers through Central America and Mexico in hopes of reaching Canada or the United States to 'live the American Dream.' No one ever said the dream belonged solely to United States' Americans. A good look at the dangers and difficulties that these people face-just trying to feed their families. This film highlights the catholic safe houses throughout Central America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and their rise in popularity since the inception of the WTO. This film reveals the dangers migrants face long before they get to the vigilante minutemen who patrol the border along with US and Mexican Border Patrols. From catching 'death trains' to Mexican gangs which rob and murder migrants on their way to the US and Canada from central American countries, the filmmakers take the viewer on a ride with brave people simply seeking a better life. An excellent companion documentary for this film is "Crossing Arizona."

View More
lastliberal

Wetback: The Undocumented Documentary is an excellent film by Arturo Pereze Torres and Heather Haynes. It shows the issue of immigration into the US from the side of the undocumented worker. We all know the side of the vigilantes. All we have to do is watch anyone on Fox to get that side. But, what do we really know about the other side. The Smoking Gun's expose of A Million Little Pieces showed us that what we think is true often isn't. Wetback shows us the poverty that drives workers across our borders. Poverty that causes them to literally risk life and limb to get something for their family. It also shows the gains to the US and other American countries from the undocumented workers in this country.But, it is really all about survival. Survival is what drives them to travel thousands of miles, facing Mexican police and gangs that rob and rape them, and the Border Patrol and the vigilantes in the US. Survival - something many of us have never faced and, hopefully, will not face.It is helpful to know the other side of the coin. I think it makes us a better person.

View More
halewood2

I was alarmed by Downey's comments. Part of the reason immigrants are coming to America is as a fallout to the policies of past US administrations. When Reagan invaded El Salvador and Honduras in the '80s, thousands were killed and displaced. They were trained by both the US armed forces and CIA to fight against their own people (taken from schools by force by the time they reached 12)and also offered green cards to become fighting machines against the Sandanistas. (This is happening now, with the US trying to recruit Mara Salvatruchas to fight in Iraq). Thanks to the rape of those two countries by the US, there is very little left to stay for. The beauty of these undocumented workers is that they come to the US to do just that: Work, hard. And - unlike Downey suggests - with no medical insurance. Not only do they prop up the US economy, they also pour millions into their own economies - something that the US should be doing to make up for the past. I really enjoyed this documentary. I hope it will remind all of those lucky enough not to be born in the barrio/ghetto/shanty-town, that unless we do something about it there will always be people willing to risk life and limb, just to be able to eat.

View More