"The Cruel Face of New York" ( Italian: La faccia violenta di New York , English name is English. One Way ) - Italo - Mexican film of 1973 in the genre of social drama . Talks about the tragic fate of a Mexican immigrant in the United States . It affects the acute problems of the Latin American population of the United States , the exploitation of foreign workers, corruption, the lawlessness of the migration mafia. Includes elements of a thriller and a love-psychological drama. Director - Jorge Eduardo Mouseri (George Darnell). In the late 1970s it was demonstrated in the USSR .
| The cruel face of New York | |
|---|---|
| ital. La faccia violenta di new york English One way | |
| Genre | social drama thriller |
| Producer | Jorge Eduardo Mouseri (George Darnell) |
| Author script | Jorge Eduardo Mouseri (George Darnell), Jose Diaz Morales , Giovanni Fago |
| In the main cast | Sergio Jimenez Mimzy farmer Fernando rey Luigi Pistilly Theresa Velazquez |
| Composer | Ritz Ortolani |
| Duration | 110 minutes |
| A country | Italy , Mexico |
| Year | 1973 |
Content
Story
Sash
Mexican fisherman Sergio Fuentes lives in hopeless poverty. His acquaintance Chevo - as it turns out, a recruiter of illegal immigrants - offers Sergio to move to the United States . Sergio agrees, as his friend Javier lives in New York . He takes with him a load of smuggling (Chevo condition) and, as part of a group of recruits in a designated place, crosses the Rio Grande . The group comes under fire from border guards, three people die.
Sergio arrives in New York and arrives at the headquarters of the Latin American Brotherhood, an organization of Hispanic immigrants , mostly Mexicans and Puerto Ricans . He meets Puerto Rican Rita , the civil wife of Javier. Rita is a tough and cynical girl (“I don't care what your name is”), but she tells Javier about the arrival of a fellow countryman.
Javier works as a restaurant chef and at the same time is the criminal authority of the Mexican diaspora. Happily meeting Sergio, he leads him to the influential Mr. David , who can assist in finding employment and acquiring documents necessary for naturalization in America.
Mr. David is a fashion designer, owner of a workshop, but above all, the leader of the migration mafia. His main business is the illegal employment of Hispanics for “ kickbacks ” of employers. Immigrants are subjected to brutal exploitation. At the same time, they become completely dependent on David, who has corrupt ties with the Immigration Bureau. The dissatisfied thugs-overseers (also Latinos), who are commanded by the chief of security David and the Brotherhood Nico, deal with the discontented. The spy-spy function is performed by the trusted tailor Price .
Development
David frankly demonstrates disregard for Sergio: “He will collect fish scraps ... Let him bend over the pins ...” But Sergio draws attention to David's fashion model and concubine - Mexican Milena . From the first meeting between Sergio and Milena, a mutual feeling arises.
Sergio stops living at Javier, in the “multicultural” slum quarter. From a bed conversation between Javier and Rita, it becomes clear: Javier also works as a recruiter for David and receives a reward for each immigrant.
David notices pride and independence in Sergio. He decides to “break off” the obstinate Mexican. Javier regrets this, feels some awkwardness in front of a friend, but does not dare to contradict David. On the very first working day, Sergio is beaten by visitors to a bowling alley sent by David. A mass fight ensues, the police arrive. Sergio faces arrest for illegal stay in the United States. But Milena helps him go unnoticed.
Between Sergio and Milena, a connection is established. They meet on the top floor of David's workshop. The owner quickly begins to suspect something is wrong.
Sergio takes a job as a handyman at a coffee warehouse. There he witnesses a massacre. A deduction is made from the daily earnings for the hard work of the workers - "a contribution to the Latin American fraternity." One of the workers protests. He is immediately beaten to death by an overseer under the control of Nico. Sergio tries to intervene, but he is stopped: “He does not exist anyway. Do you have any documents? So you don’t exist either. ”
Climax
At a meeting with Milena, Sergio learns - “The Latin American Brotherhood” is David’s mafia structure, an instrument of control over disenfranchised “ guest workers ”. He exposes Milena: “Prostitute! You know everything and live in the midst of this abomination! ”Milena tells him her story - when she got to New York, she was starving and was picked up by David.
Sergio and Milena decide to do something immediately. They infiltrate the headquarters of the Brotherhood, steal the lists of recruiters and recruits, and then set fire to the premises. Sergio intends to hand over lists of Mexican police. Milena decides to flee to Mexico with Sergio.
David instructs Niko to investigate the arson and theft of documents. Nico's agents find out that there were two arsonists - a man and a woman. David guesses, but not quite sure yet. Meanwhile, Javier learns everything from Sergio.
At a crowded Latin American wedding, a Puerto Rican guest tries to get to know Rita. This is noticed by Javier. In the ensuing fight, he injures a Puerto Rican with a knife. Interethnic conflict arises, Javier faces cruel revenge, he is forced to hide.
Javier comes to David and asks to resolve the situation. David refuses: "I'm tired of messing with idiots." At this time, Nico comes with a report on the progress of the investigation. By the reaction of Javier, David realizes that he knows a lot, and requires explanation. Javier admits that the arson was committed by Sergio Fuentes. David promises to solve his problem with Puerto Ricans, but sets the condition: Javier must kill Sergio.
Final
Milena comes to Javier, gives him a large (at that time for this Wednesday) amount of money and demands to admit under what conditions David agreed to help him. Javier tells and demands that Milena leave Sergio - otherwise David will certainly kill him, at least out of jealousy. It is immediately discovered that Price is watching Milena.
Milena is afraid for Sergio. She fulfills the requirement of Javier - calls Sergio, asks to leave for Mexico alone and transmits a request from Javier for a meeting. Javier appoints a place uninhabited - early in the morning in the old port. Unsuspecting Sergio comes to Javier. He, however, does not kill him: “Get out!” Without understanding anything, Sergio runs.
Sergio is trying alone to cross the US-Mexican border. When you try to cross the Rio Grande, shots are heard. Sergio is killed.
David's workshop. Milena undresses, David waits nearby in an armchair. The phone rings - at the other end of the Chevo wire. David doesn't pick up the phone, staring at Milena. Both understand what this call is. The camera moves from Milena's crying face to David's cruel face.
Cast
- Sergio Jimenez - Sergio Fuentes , illegal immigrant.
- Mimzy Farmer - Milena , beloved Sergio, immigrant, fashion model (voiced in Russian by Roza Makagonova ).
- Fernando Rey - Mr. David , fashion designer, influential businessman, leader of the migration mafia.
- Luigi Pistilly - Javier , Sergio's friend, immigrant, chef and crime boss.
- Teresa Velazquez - Rita , the civil wife of Javier.
- Adolfo Lastretti - Nico , David Security Manager .
- Giuseppe d'Avanzo - Price , David's tailor and spy.
- Leon Singer - Chevo , David's recruiter.
Show in the USSR
In 1978 - 1979, the film was screened in the USSR and enjoyed some success.
On March 6, 1975, the film safely reached the Apennine cinemas, where its socially critical sound did not go unnoticed by Sovexportfilm purchasers. In order to rid the tape of inviting coloring - and at the same time not to aggravate the problem of the deficit of color film that arose in the second half of the 70s - the picture was printed in black and white, and the USSR saw it like that in 1978 . And here the film, devoted to a problem seemingly infinitely far from the then Soviet realities, fell on fertile soil ...
New York’s “cruel face” did not become a cult object to the extent that they were Sandy Quarry Generals or later Trickster , but shared a place of honor somewhere between American Stuntmen and White Strip Fever , West German “ And the rain washes away all traces ” and “The Secret Motel“ Honeymoon ”and the Italian“ Last Shot ”and“ Piazza San Babila, 20 hours . ”In the fall of 1978, the eternally torn upholstery of the seats of Soviet cinemas was not erased one thousand pairs of tight jeans. And today, memories of him no, no, and they’ll find a strange loophole to find themselves. So, in a recent chat about the new Russian film “ Zero Kilometer ”, one user noticed that her idea was inspired by the “old American film“ The Cruel Face of New York ", Which may well be true, given that the author of" Kilometer " Pavel Sanaev is a person with a developed aesthetic perception, and the schoolchild was probably quite impressed by the imported picture, the additional forbidden charm of which was added by the signature stamp" Children under 16 are not allowed " [1] .