The proud Mexican tradition of corrido music—captured in the performances of Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte and the late Chalino Sanchez—provides both heartbeat and backbone to this rich examination of songs, drugs and dreams along the U.S./Mexico border. Al Otro Lado follows Magdiel, an aspiring corrido composer from the drug capital of Mexico, as he faces two difficult choices to better his life: to traffic drugs or to cross the border illegally into the United States.
“A lyrical and beautiful account of border culture... humane, visually exquisite and resists simple descriptions.” —Robert Koehler, Variety
“The documentary is handsomely filmed, whether in sun-drenched landscapes or crowded nightclubs. It's not a history of corridos, which have roots that reach back to medieval songs; it's a glimpse of art running parallel to daily life.” —John Pareles, The New York Times
Nominee, Gotham Awards
Los Angeles International Film Festival
Cultural Voice Award, New York Latino International Film Festival
Newark Museum of Art
Camden Documentary Film Festival
Honorable Mention: Best Documentary, Morelia Film Festival
Opening Night Film, Boston Latino International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival (traveling festival)
Puerto Vallarta Film Festival, Mexico
Puerto Rico International Film Festival: *Best Documentary
Rehoboth Film Festival
Detroit Documentary Film Festival
Best Feature Film, CineFestival, San Antonio
Havana Film Festival, Cuba
Gijon, Spain
Leeds International Film Festival, UK
Ambulante Documentary Tour, Mexico 2008 Whitney Biennial
2006 Museum of Modern Art, Documentary Fortnight
2005 Tribeca Film Festival
2005 Los Angeles International Film Festival