Comedy
United States of America
Born in East L.A. is a comedy film that was released in 1987. It was written, directed, and starred in by Cheech Marin. The film follows the story of Rudy Robles, a Mexican-American from Los Angeles who is mistaken for an illegal immigrant and deported to Mexico. Rudy is a struggling musician who works as a studio assistant to a producer and dreams of becoming a famous recording artist.
The film opens with Rudy and his band performing at a bar, unaware of a nearby immigration raid. After the raid, Rudy is arrested along with several other Hispanic workers and taken to a detention center. The officers assume that Rudy is undocumented and send him to Mexico, despite his protests that he is an American citizen.
In Mexico, Rudy is unable to communicate with anyone, as he doesn't speak Spanish. He meets some locals who try to help him out, but he finds it difficult to adapt to the culture and language. Rudy eventually meets a woman named Dolores who speaks English and offers to help him. Together, they devise a plan to sneak back into the United States.
The remainder of the film depicts Rudy's hilarious attempts to re-enter the United States, including his disguising himself as a woman and getting caught by the border patrol. Rudy eventually makes it back to Los Angeles and is reunited with his family and friends. The film ends with Rudy reflecting on his experiences and expressing his gratitude for being born in East L.A.
Born in East L.A. is a satirical take on the issue of immigration and the mistreatment of migrant workers. It highlights the struggles faced by those who are wrongly identified as undocumented and the cultural divide that exists between Mexico and the United States. It is a funny, heartwarming film that has become a cult classic in the years since its release.
