Upon Entry

The events unfold in a present-day context where visa processes, biometric checks, and strict interrogation are common. The pace reflects real-time immigration procedures and the pressure they place on personal histories and intentions. The setting situates the narrative firmly in a modern era of heightened scrutiny at entry points.

The story begins at Newark Liberty International Airport as the couple enters the United States. The setting quickly centers on the high-stakes immigration process, with biometric scans, bag checks, and a dog sniffing the luggage. The airport environment acts as a microcosm of the US entry system, thick with tension and uncertainty about their future.

🧭 Bureaucracy

The film exposes the rigid, impersonal machinery of immigration checks, where forms, records, and procedures overshadow individual stories. The couple navigates a labyrinth of questions, searches, and holds, highlighting how rules govern entry as much as desire governs belonging. This theme reveals the emotional toll of a system that treats people as entries in a ledger rather than human beings.

💔 Relations Under Strain

Elena and Diego's bond is tested by fear, suspicion, and cultural expectations amid the process. Their plans for a shared future collide with the reality of time constraints, potential separation, and the strain of being watched. The tension underscores how paperwork and uncertainty can fracture even the strongest relationships.

🔎 Truth & Identity

Past secrets and present pressures collide as investigators probe Diego's history, past engagements, and nationality questions. The couple must decide what to reveal and when, balancing honesty with the fear of jeopardizing their chances. The narrative probes how identity is shaped by records, memory, and the stories people tell under pressure.