Notes on…

Upon Entry(2023)

Dir. Directed by Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez


Exposition is usually the force that defeats a movie, revealing a writer’s lack of tact. Here, it has the opposite effect. For a film that takes place mostly with interviews happening in real-time, Upon Entry is more or less only exposition, and it’s effectively tense and uncomfortable. [The] movie’s missteps are few—sometimes it's too hammy of a scowl from one of the agents or a moment in which the power goes out. But the larger impression is there—so much is going on outside the room that Diego and Elena do not know about.

Nick Allen (RogerEbert.com)

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Diego, a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a family in 'the land of opportunities'. But upon entering New York airport's immigration area, they are taken to the secondary inspection room, where border officers will subject them to an unpleasant inspection process and a psychologically grueling interrogation.