Soy Nero
(2016)
Der 19-jährige Mexikaner Nero (Johnny Ortiz) wuchs in Kalifornien auf, wurde dann aber nach Mexiko abgeschoben, weil er keine Aufenthaltserlaubnis bekommen hatte. Seine einzige Chance, in den USA zu leben, besteht im sogenannten „Dream Act“: Er muss es über die schwer bewachte Grenze schaffen und als Green-Card-Soldat für die Vereinigten Staaten in den Krieg ziehen. Einmal drüben, scheint es zuerst, als erfülle sich Neros Traum ohne blutigen Kampfeinsatz. Nachdem ihn Familienvater Seymour (Michael Harney) einige Kilometer lang als Anhalter hat mitfahren lassen, erlebt er im Luxusanwesen seines Bruders Jesus (Ian Casselberry) eine berauschend-betörende Nacht in Beverly Hills. Sogar Papiere werden Nero von Jesus in Aussicht gestellt – doch die schöne Aussicht entpuppt sich rasch als trügerisch.
The border fence between Mexico and the United States is part of their lives; Mexican youths use it as a volleyball net on the beach, holding their own kind of international matches with their opposite numbers on the other side. When Nero scales the metres-high metal bars we suspect that he has done this often before: because nothing is going to divert him from his dream of becoming a US citizen. He follows the traces of his older brother which lead him to Los Angeles and the mansions of the rich and famous where he gazes incredulously at this very different lifestyle with its pools and double garages that he soon hopes will be his. His only chance of quickly acquiring a green card, however, is by volunteering for military service. Before he knows it, Nero finds himself in the desert landscape of the war zones of the Middle East, fighting for his citizenship with a machine gun in his hand.
The border fence between Mexico and the United States is part of their lives; Mexican youths use it as a volleyball net on the beach, holding their own kind of international matches with their opposite numbers on the other side. When Nero scales the metres-high metal bars we suspect that he has done this often before: because nothing is going to divert him from his dream of becoming a US citizen. He follows the traces of his older brother which lead him to Los Angeles and the mansions of the rich and famous where he gazes incredulously at this very different lifestyle with its pools and double garages that he soon hopes will be his. His only chance of quickly acquiring a green card, however, is by volunteering for military service. Before he knows it, Nero finds himself in the desert landscape of the war zones of the Middle East, fighting for his citizenship with a machine gun in his hand.
