The
Mexican Immigrant Identity
and
Narco-Corrido Films
La Tumba del Mojado
A
corridor written by “Los Tigres del Norte,” and created as a film directed by Jose
Luis Urquieta which was released in 1985, depicts the story an undocumented
couple immigrants working in the United States, whom because of their
citizenship and discrimination from American society are forced into the
dangerous world of crime.
Part
1:
Part
4:
The
identity concept within this film that differs from the early corrido film is
the notion that the new contemporary corridos have focused more on the issues
of immigration to the United States and the world of crime and have portrayed
the undocumented worker as the national identity of Mexicans. As we have seen
historically in past corridos, certain criminal action has been viewed as a
characteristic of a hero. The film idolizes the undocumented worker (who by law
came to the U.S. illegally) more than the Mexican drug lord who comes to
America to progress through violence or drugs. The film favors the undocumented
worker because in the film the characters are common folks from the rural areas
of Mexico who simply work very hard to support family members back in Mexico.
The female undocumented worker is strong and does not allow a pregnancy from
leaving work. The male character in the film sums responsibility in supporting
his pregnant girlfriend and works hard to return to her after being deported.
When it comes to the national identity, this film has in some way presented a
concrete Mexicanidad, the undocumented worker seems to be the national identity
that Mexican citizen should thrive to be because the undocumented worker does
not surrender to obstacles and continues to pursue progress in a humble honest
manner.
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