Nava’s directorial debut was called “the first independent American epic” by Variety when it was first released, which is as apt a description as I can imagine. Originally intended for broadcast on PBS, this beautifully stirring and deeply tragic story about two young Guatemalans escaping the violence of their homeland for dreams of freedom in the United States puts an undeniably human face on a pressing political issue without ever once being overtly “political.” A true lesson in shared humanity. (Blu-Ray)