Part 1: Arturo Xuncax
Set in the tranquil San Pedro, a small rural village in Guatemala, we are introduced to the Xuncax family, comprised of resilient indigenous Mayans. Arturo, a diligent coffee picker, shares his insights with his son, Enrique, on the harsh realities faced by their community, revealing that, "to the rich, the peasant is just a pair of strong arms." The family contemplates a future in the United States, where they believe that "all the people, even the poor, own their own cars." However, Arturo’s ambition to advocate for workers’ rights leads to tragedy; he, along with his fellow activists, is betrayed by a co-worker and subsequently murdered by government soldiers. The harrowing sight of Arturo’s severed head hanging from a tree leaves a chilling impact. When Enrique bravely attempts to reach his father's body, a soldier suddenly attacks him, but in a twist of fate, Enrique fights back and kills the assailant. Soon after, they find out that many villagers have been seized by soldiers, and to their dismay, their mother also "disappears." With money gifted to them by their godmother, Enrique and his sister Rosa make the perilous decision to flee their homeland.
Part 2: Coyote
The narrative transitions to the siblings' escape as they venture through Mexico, meeting a Mexican coyote who promises to help them cross the border. This section is peppered with comedic interludes, showcasing the awkward attempts of Enrique and Rosa as they try to blend in as indigenous Mexicans. Their first crossing attempt fails miserably when they mislead a truck driver with their incorrect destination. A deceptive coyote tries to rob them, but they manage to succeed in persuading a U.S. Border Patrol officer during their second crossing attempt. The humor turns grim when they experience the horrors of traversing through a rat-infested sewer.
Part 3: El Norte
In the concluding part of the film, Rosa and Enrique face the stark challenges of living in the U.S. undocumented. Their initial excitement is short-lived as they settle in Los Angeles after spending a night in a rundown motel. The siblings find jobs, but their struggles soon deepen when Rosa narrowly escapes an immigration raid. As she takes a job as a domestic worker, she becomes bewildered by her employer’s washing machine. Meanwhile, Enrique starts working as a busboy, and as he sharpens his English skills, he earns a promotion to a waiter’s assistant. When a wealthy businesswoman offers him a better opportunity in Chicago, he hesitates, not wanting to abandon his sister. However, envy from a co-worker leads to an immigration report against him, pushing him back towards the businesswoman.
As Enrique grapples with the weight of his decisions, Rosa falls gravely ill from typhus after their treacherous journey. Faced with the choice of pursuing his career in Chicago or remaining with Rosa, he chooses the latter. Her poignant words leave a lasting impression: "In our own land, we have no home. They want to kill us. In Mexico, there is only poverty. We can't make a home there either. And here in the north, we aren't accepted. When will we find a home, Enrique? Maybe when we die, we'll find a home." After Rosa peacefully passes away, Enrique finds himself back at square one, waiting for work, embodying the truth of his father’s words: the poor remain just "strong arms" for the affluent. The film closes on a haunting note, mirroring its beginnings with a severed head, a stark reminder of the cycle of violence and exploitation.
