El Norte Blu-ray

Years before he made such Hollywood films as Selena (1997) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (1998), Gregory Nava was an independent filmmaker who hit one out of the ballpark with 1983’s El Norte. The epic tale follows a teenage brother and sister who flee unrest in their native Guatemala and journey north through Mexico and into Southern California to pursue a new life. Criterion is giving the film its stateside DVD and Blu-ray premiere. Though the Blu-ray image is not flawless—it’s a bit grainy and there’s some wavering—it certainly looks (and sounds) better than previous releases.

Shelf Talk: A memorable and respected film about the immigrant experience, El Norte was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and selected for the National Film Registry in 1995. Though it won’t have appeal to general Blu-ray adopters, it’s a sure thing for arthouse fans and Latin viewers who’ve taken the high-def plunge.