NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Bordertown (2007 film)

Bordertown is an American and British motion picture released in 2007, written and directed by Oscar nominated Gregory Nava and executive produced by David Bergstein, Cary Epstein, Barbara Martinez-Jitner, and Tracee Stanley-Newell.^[2] Image File history File links Boderposter. ... Gregory Nava publicity photo Gregory Nava, a third generation Mexican-American (born April 10, 1949 in San Diego, California) is a film director, producer and screenplay writer, of Mexican and Basque heritage. ... For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ... JosÃ© Antonio DomÃnguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer who has starred in several high-profile Hollywood films including Ballistic: Ecks vs. ... Graeme Revell was born in New Zealand in 1955. ... ThinkFilm is a distibutor of independent films which was founded in 2001. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956â€“present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... 2007 has been referred to, by film and media critics, as the Battle of the Sequels 2, a nickname referring to both the 2004 summer movie season and several film franchises from that year, which again appear this year: Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Oceans Thirteen, Resident Evil... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... Gregory Nava publicity photo Gregory Nava, a third generation Mexican-American (born April 10, 1949 in San Diego, California) is a film director, producer and screenplay writer, of Mexican and Basque heritage. ...

The movie stars Jennifer Lopez (also credited as producer), Antonio Banderas, Martin Sheen, and others. For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ... JosÃ© Antonio DomÃnguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer who has starred in several high-profile Hollywood films including Ballistic: Ecks vs. ... Martin Sheen (born August 3, 1940) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ...

The film tells the true story of the numerous women murdered in Ciudad Juárez and the inquisitive American reporter sent in by her American newspaper. Ciudad JuÃ¡rez, or simply JuÃ¡rez, is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua with an estimated population of 1,512,354 as of 2005. ...

Plot

The opening titles explain that American corporations are using the North American Free Trade Agreement by opening large maquiladoras right across the United States border. The maquiladora's hire mostly Mexican women to work long hours for little money in order to produce mass quantity products. Secretariats Mexico City, Ottawa and Washington, D.C. Official languages English, French and Spanish Membership Canada, Mexico and the United States Establishment - Formation 1 January 1994 Website http://www. ... A maquiladora or maquila is a factory that imports materials and equipment on a duty-free and tariff-free basis for assembly or manufacturing and then re-exports the assembled product, usually back to the originating country. ...

Lauren Adrian (Jennifer Lopez), an impassioned American news reporter for the "Chicago Sentinel" wants to be assigned to the Iraq front-lines to cover the war. Instead, her editor George Morgan (Martin Sheen) assigns her to investigate a series of slayings involving young maquiladora factory women in a Mexican bordertown. For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ... Martin Sheen (born August 3, 1940) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ...

Worker Eva (Maya Zapata), originally from Oaxaca in the south, takes a bus to go back to her shanty-town home after work. After a while she is the last passenger still in the bus. The driver asks her if it is okay that he goes to a gas station to fill up, and Eva agrees. However, he takes her to a quiet place and assaults and rapes her together with another man, who then tries to strangle her. The two men, believing her dead, bury her alive. With the little energy she has left, Eva escapes. Catedral de Santo Domingo The Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca or simply Oaxaca is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located in the southern part of Mexico, west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. ...

Adrian heads to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to investigate the murders, hoping that if she does well she'll be assigned to Iraq by Morgan. In Juárez, she meets up with Diaz (Antonio Banderas), her ex-boyfriend, who is the editor for the local newspaper "El Sol de Juárez." She also meets Eva. Ciudad JuÃ¡rez, or simply JuÃ¡rez, is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua with an estimated population of 1,512,354 as of 2005. ... JosÃ© Antonio DomÃnguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer who has starred in several high-profile Hollywood films including Ballistic: Ecks vs. ...

The three try to find the two killers and have them prosecuted. For this purpose she starts working in the factory, in order to act as bait on the bus ride. Indeed the driver tries to assault her in the same way as Eva, and while police assistance was arranged they are at the wrong place. She manages to escape her attacker. Later Diaz gets killed. Eva changes her mind and does not want to testify anymore against the second killer for fear of revenge, and tries to flee to the US, together with others in the trunk of a car. She gets caught and is sent back. Adrian convinces her to testify after all. For political reasons the Chicago Sentinel refuses to publish Adrian's story.

Cast

A motion picture rating system categorizes films with regard to suitability for children and/or adults in terms of issues such as sex, violence and profanity. ... The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and territories and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ... JosÃ© Antonio DomÃnguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer who has starred in several high-profile Hollywood films including Ballistic: Ecks vs. ... Zaide Silvia GutiÃ©rrez (born [November 2]], 1959 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican-born actress whose breakout role was the 1984 film El Norte. ... SÃ´nia Maria Braga (born June 8, 1950) is a Brazilian actress. ... Juan Diego Botto-Rota (born August 29, 1975, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine-Spanish actor. ... Martin Sheen (born August 3, 1940) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Batinkoff with Molly Ringwald in For Keeps?, 1988 Randall Batinkoff (born October 16, 1968) is an American actor. ... Juan Esteban AristizÃ¡bal VÃ¡squez (born August 9, 1972), best known as Juanes, is a rock musician from MedellÃn, Colombia. ...

Exhibition

The picture was first presented at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2007 in competition. It was nominated for a Golden Bear.^[3] One of the A festivals in Europe. ... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the most important film festivals in Europe and the world. ...

Producers told the Los Angeles Times on February 14, 2007, that the film does not yet have a release date in the United States.^[4] However, IMDb states that a limited release is scheduled for June 2007.^[5] Hollywood.com: Lensing/Awaiting Release: 8/31/2007 This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Background

The motion picture is loosely based on a series of unsolved murders in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a maquiladora border town near El Paso, Texas. Estimates of the murders conflict, yet, conservatively speaking over four hundred women, maybe many more, have been kidnapped, tortured and murdered since 1993 in and around Ciudad Juárez.^[6] It has been suggested that Juarez murders be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links Bordertown101. ... Image File history File links Bordertown101. ... Ciudad JuÃ¡rez, or simply JuÃ¡rez, is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua with an estimated population of 1,512,354 as of 2005. ... A maquiladora or maquila is a factory that imports materials and equipment on a duty-free and tariff-free basis for assembly or manufacturing and then re-exports the assembled product, usually back to the originating country. ... El Paso redirects here. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

When Gregory Nava first heard about the murders in Ciudad Juárez he wanted to do something. He said that his vision became to tell the stories through "an exciting thriller-drama."^[7]

Nava approached Jennifer Lopez to do the film in 1998 and she was receptive. Lopez said, "Since first hearing of these atrocities in 1998, when Gregory Nava came to me with this project, I desperately wanted to tell this story. I began working to ensure we made this film in order to bring the attention of the world to [the] tragedy and to pressure the Mexican government to bring to justice those responsible for these horrible crimes."^[8]

Screenplay

The inspiration for the story, according to Nava, was the work of Guatemalan writer Miguel Angel Asturias, the magic realism of novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and the social dramas of England's Charles Dickens. He also said the screenplay was a return to an El Norte type of screenplay (Oscar nominated). In El Norte he created a screenplay from many of the interviews he conducted. He did the same in Bordertown.^[9] Miguel Ángel Asturias (October 19, 1899 – June 9, 1974) was a Guatemalan writer and diplomat. ... Magic realism (or magical realism) is an artistic genre in which magical elements appear in an otherwise realistic setting. ... Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabriel García Márquez (born March 6, 1928) is a Colombian novelist, journalist, publisher, and political activist. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England â€” the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... â€œDickensâ€ redirects here. ... El Norte is an American and British film, directed by Gregory Nava. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ...

Financing

Mobius Entertainment, the production company, borrowed money to complete the project from the New Mexico State Investment Council (NMSI) but was late in paying back the loan in March 2006.^[10] A loan is a type of debt. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A second $12.65MM loan could be called in by NMSI before its November 2008 due date because of the late payments. The second loan calls for zero interest because the state of New Mexico will take ten percent of any profits the film might make. Film producers said the delay of payment was due to filming taking longer than expected. Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ...

At one point the film was in development with both New Line Cinema and MGM.^[11] New Line Cinema, founded in 1967, is one of the major American film studios. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ...

Production

Director Gregory Nava and executive producer Barbara Martinez-Jitner believed that the film would bring strong reactions. Nava has said the production received threats against himself and the cast. Also, there was stolen equipment and intimidation of film crew members when they filmed in Mexico. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

According to the Martinez-Jitner when they first filmed in Ciudad Juárez, the police began threatening locals who were helping the production and to began stalk the crew. Also, a camera truck was vandalized and $100,000 worth of film equipment was stolen.

Bordertown places the blame for the murders to the Mexican government, the United States, and to the maquiladora assembly plants that were accelerated by the North American Free Trade Agreement. Secretariats Mexico City, Ottawa and Washington, D.C. Official languages English, French and Spanish Membership Canada, Mexico and the United States Establishment - Formation 1 January 1994 Website http://www. ...

Nava said, "[When] there are very powerful forces involved, you're going to be attacked. I expect the Mexican government to get very upset about it."^[12]

Filming locations

Filming locations include: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States; Nogales, Sonora, and Ciudad Juárez, all in Mexico. Nickname: Location in the state of New Mexico Coordinates: , Country State County Bernalillo Founded 1706 Government - Mayor Martin Chavez Area - City 181. ... Nogales is a Spanish word meaning walnut trees. As a geographical name, it is shared by several places: Chile Nogales, Chile Mexico Nogales, Chihuahua Nogales, Durango Nogales, Sonora Nogales, Tamaulipas Nogales, Veracruz Spain Nogales, Badajoz province, Extremadura United States Nogales, Arizona Category: ... This article is about the Mexican state of Sonora. ...

Critical reception

The initial critical reception at the film festival was harsh. Kirk Honeycutt, writing for the Hollywood Reporter, did not like the film: "It wants to be a thriller, a piece of investigative journalism, a political soapbox and a vehicle for Jennifer Lopez. It serves none of these masters well." Honeycutt also said the screenplay is full of plot holes and outlines some of them in his review of the film.^[14] The Hollywood Reporter is one of two major trade papers of the film industry in the United States, the other being Variety. ...

According to media reports, the audience reacted with a mixture of "boos and muted applause" when the film finished screening.^[15]

Variety magazine film critic Leslie Felperin has a problem with some of the arguments made in the film, namely: that the NAFTA agreement and the exploitation of Mexican labor directly led to the killing of many women in Ciudad Juárez. Felperin said, "Possible co-factors or causes of the real crime spree, such as rife drug-related criminality, domestic violence largely ignored by the authorities, and the possibility that at least some of the culprits may be U.S. citizens crossing the border to kill for kicks, are not explored here." As for the film, Felperin calls the movie "only fair-to-poor."^[16] Variety is a daily newspaper for the entertainment industry. ...

Awards

Wins
At the Berlin International Film Festival Jennifer Lopez received the "Artists for Amnesty," award presented by Amnesty International. She won the award for her role as producer and star of a film "examining the ongoing murders of hundreds of women in a Mexican border town."^[17] One of the A festivals in Europe. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

Life imitates art

Throughout the years various people have been arrested for the murders in Ciudad Juárez. The latest arrested suspect is Edgar Alvarez Cruz. Cruz was charged on September 8, 2006, of one murder but is suspected of several others by the authorities. Cruz's family say he has a solid alibi.^[18] is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Footnotes

^ Amedeo, Michael. The Albuquerque Tribune, October 19, 2006.
^ Bordertown at the Internet Movie Database.
^ The West Australian. From: Associated Press, "Amnesty to honour J-Lo for Bordertown," February 3, 2007.
^ Johnson, Reed. The Los Angeles Times, "Mexico's murdered women find a voice in 'Bordertown': A new film casts blame on both sides of the border for the scandal that is Ciudad Juárez," February 14, 2007.
^ IMDb, release date section, ibid.
^ Summers, Chris. BBC News, "Hollywood Tackles Mexican Mystery," September 10, 2006.
^ Gerson, Daniela. Spiegel International, from Berlinale, February 15, 2007.
^ Mainichi Daily News. "Lopez to receive award from human rights group for Bordertown," entertainment article, February 3, 2007.
^ Gerson, Daniela. Ibid.
^ Amedeo, Michael. Ibid.
^ Showbizdata film data base.
^ Johnson, Reed. Ibid.
^ European-films web site.
^ Honeycutt, Kirk. The Hollywood Reporter, (via Reuters), "Jennifer Lopez lost in ludicrous Bordertown, February 15, 2007.
^ Spiegel Online. "'Bordertown' Booed at Berlinale," February 16, 2007.
^ Felperin, Leslie. Variety, film review from Berlinale, February 15, 2007.
^ Mainichi Daily News, ibid.
^ Summers, Chris. Ibid.

The Albuquerque Tribune is a newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded in 1922 by Carlton Cole Magee as Magees Independent. ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Headquarters in Tokyo Osaka Office Newsagents shop in Higashi-osaka Printing plant in Settsu The Mainichi Shimbun , lit. ...

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