Frontera is the first feature film from writer/director Michael Berry. It boldly tackles subjects which are sensitive for many people: illegal immigration, human trafficking, rape, violence, and poverty. Yet it does not do so in a heavy-handed manner. The plot moves along at a steady pace. The action is not excessive, but it kept me solidly captivated throughout the whole film.
The cinematography was particularly compelling. I loved how the camera was repeatedly used to draw my gaze towards certain elements in the frame. There are several shots which still linger in my mind’s eye. One such shot was a low-angle shot framing a water bottle in the foreground while also looking up at Michael Peña’s character Miguel. This shot was a powerful reminder of Miguel’s struggle, both his immediate physical fight for survival and his larger fight to provide for his family.
Another memorable shot took place at the farm of Roy (played with great emotional depth by Ed Harris). It focused on a hanging horseshoe in the foreground and slowly shifted focus to the background until the horseshoe lost focus and disappeared entirely. This shot was actually used twice, once towards the start of the film and later towards the end of the film. This pair of shots complemented the repeated use of the phrase “Good luck,” reminding viewers of the characters’ dangerous situations. Frontera is a beautifully shot film.
I commend Michael Berry for making a film about a topic as controversial as immigration. Although he attempts to remain fair to both sides of the issue, he focuses more heavily on highlighting the perspective of those south of the border, and I consider this a strength of the film. Frontera opens in Mexico while showing Miguel’s family, helping viewers see the events of the film primarily through their perspective. As a Christian, I try to view the immigration issue in our country through the eyes of justice, especially through the eyes of the less fortunate. I want to make sure that I am looking at this complex issue from the perspectives of those on both sides of the border.
Frontera excels in that it does not view Miguel and his family as “illegals” or even as Mexicans. It refuses to fall into that trap and instead views them simply as humans. This is how Christ viewed individuals who were on the bottom of society, and Christians have been called to follow his example and do the same.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught us this attitude: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.…And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” This attitude towards strangers and aliens did not originate with Christ; God commanded the Jews to be favorable towards strangers multiple times in the Torah: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Frontera’s tackles the immigration issue by viewing people through the eyes of justice. This much-needed perspective, combined with gorgeous cinematography, make Frontera a film well worth your time. It is currently playing in select theaters, and is readily available for you to watch at home via popular Video On Demand services.
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