Juan, Sara and Samuel are all 15 when they leave their homeland Guatemala to travel to the United States via Mexico. For the most part, the journey is by train. Illegally of course, they cling to the roof. On their way they meet the Indian boy Chouk. He speaks no Spanish and has no official documents. All four of them believe there is a better future waiting for them in America, but the reality is far less rosy. They encounter corrupt cops and heartless criminals. Director Quemada-Diéz previously worked, among other things, as a camera assistant for Ken Loach and you can really tell due to his realistic style. This touching road movie never becomes sentimental. For a long time, he keeps the viewer guessing as to the result of the trip. Will the teens make it to the U.S. in the end? Or will their American dream become a golden cage? This long remains uncertain, like the fate of many people who attempt this journey in reality.
