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In March 1917, the Jones–Shafroth Act was signed by President Wilson effectively granting U.S. citizenship to people born in Puerto Rico. Just in time for us to be drafted into war when the U.S. declared war on Germany about a month later. Ever since, Puerto Ricans have served in every American war, from World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the Vietnam War, approximately 48,000 Puerto Ricans served. More than 350 either died in combat or never returned. It is in that setting that Héroes de Otra Patria takes place. The film follows Carlos (Jorge Castillo), an idealistic soldier that's anxious to return home to his family. However, when he's sent in a dangerous mission with Raúl (Jimmy Navarro), a more unhinged soldier, the two have to learn to take care of each other.
This is yet another Puerto Rican film that was submitted for the Academy Awards, but not nominated. I had fond memories of watching it back in the day, so I was looking forward to revisiting it. Despite some glaring issues in terms of the script, the direction by Iván Dariel Ortíz is pretty solid. It's obvious that he's trying to make the most of a small budget to try to portray realistic combat scenes, and for the most part, he succeeds, even if very often you can see the seams.
The scenes in Vietnam are intercalated with scenes in Puerto Rico of Carlos' family struggling to keep things together at the uncertainty of his fate, but also as they try to make ends meet monetarily. Most of these scenes are not that well executed and end up breaking the pace from the war scenes, which are slightly better executed and more engaging. The main performances from Castillo and Navarro are competent. Unfortunately, their dialogue is not. They are given clunky lines that seem to be taken off brochures and don't feel organic at all.
Moreover, for how important their bond and interactions are in the second half of the film, I wish that relationship would've been established better in the first act. Instead, they focus on Carlos' relationship with another soldier, Esteban (Víctor Tirado) who is being sent home. Because of this, the developments of the second half between Carlos and Raúl feel out of left field and have little weight. I commend director and writer Ortíz for trying to tell an ambitious story with an interesting twist. It just needed better writing and execution.
Grade:
HÉROES DE OTRA PATRIA
(1998, Ortíz)
A war film
(1998, Ortíz)
A war film
"This is not my war. I'm here fighting for things I know nothing about or care for."
In March 1917, the Jones–Shafroth Act was signed by President Wilson effectively granting U.S. citizenship to people born in Puerto Rico. Just in time for us to be drafted into war when the U.S. declared war on Germany about a month later. Ever since, Puerto Ricans have served in every American war, from World War I to Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the Vietnam War, approximately 48,000 Puerto Ricans served. More than 350 either died in combat or never returned. It is in that setting that Héroes de Otra Patria takes place. The film follows Carlos (Jorge Castillo), an idealistic soldier that's anxious to return home to his family. However, when he's sent in a dangerous mission with Raúl (Jimmy Navarro), a more unhinged soldier, the two have to learn to take care of each other.
This is yet another Puerto Rican film that was submitted for the Academy Awards, but not nominated. I had fond memories of watching it back in the day, so I was looking forward to revisiting it. Despite some glaring issues in terms of the script, the direction by Iván Dariel Ortíz is pretty solid. It's obvious that he's trying to make the most of a small budget to try to portray realistic combat scenes, and for the most part, he succeeds, even if very often you can see the seams.
The scenes in Vietnam are intercalated with scenes in Puerto Rico of Carlos' family struggling to keep things together at the uncertainty of his fate, but also as they try to make ends meet monetarily. Most of these scenes are not that well executed and end up breaking the pace from the war scenes, which are slightly better executed and more engaging. The main performances from Castillo and Navarro are competent. Unfortunately, their dialogue is not. They are given clunky lines that seem to be taken off brochures and don't feel organic at all.
Moreover, for how important their bond and interactions are in the second half of the film, I wish that relationship would've been established better in the first act. Instead, they focus on Carlos' relationship with another soldier, Esteban (Víctor Tirado) who is being sent home. Because of this, the developments of the second half between Carlos and Raúl feel out of left field and have little weight. I commend director and writer Ortíz for trying to tell an ambitious story with an interesting twist. It just needed better writing and execution.
Grade: