Summary
- Zoë Saldaña gives a strong performance in a realistic and brutal film about immigration, human trafficking, and the border crisis.
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The Absence of Eden
unfortunately generalizes and demonizes border agents in an overly political move. - The story of Esme is raw, real, and powerful, but the film lacks nuance and is directed with an overly allegorical, quasi-spiritual framing that doesn’t work.
A Mexican woman fleeing violence and an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent are inexorably drawn towards each other in a divided border town. The Absence of Eden pulls no punches in its harrowing portrayal of human trafficking, the exploitation of undocumented people, and the differing reactions of those responsible for keeping order. Writer/director Marco Perego, in his feature debut, uses poetic and religious metaphors to bolster the plight of those seeking safety and better lives. But his heavy-handed approach doesn’t paint everyone involved with a fair brush. He lacks nuance on a divisive issue that isn’t black and white.
Esmeralda “Esme” Rojas (Zoë Saldaña) performs a lap dance on a lecherous cartel member at a seedy Mexican strip club. She continually rebuffs his advances for something more until he refuses to back down. Across the border in Texas, Shipp (Garrett Hedlund) ignores phone calls from his estranged father as he completes his training as an ICE agent. Shipp meets his new partner, Evans (Chris Coy), a hardened veteran who despises the undocumented and takes the rookie under his wing.
In Mexico, a distraught Esme collects all of her belongings before tearfully kissing her abuela goodbye. She hopes her life savings will be enough to pay the coyote. Esme needs to leave immediately before the cartel finds her. In Texas, Shipp drinks at a bar while contemplating Evans’ behavior and attitude on his first day. He catches the eye of the beautiful, raven-haired Yadira (Adria Arjona) dancing with another man. A spark instantly ignites between them.
The Repugnant Coyote and a Dangerous Love
2/5
Release Date April 12, 2024
Director Marco Perego
Runtime 132 min
Studio Pioneer Pictures, Cinestar Pictures, Ingenious Media, Ashland Hill Media
Pros
- A realistic look at the cruelty and desperation at the border.
Cons
- An overly political film that generalizes and demonizes.
- Perego’s direction is too poetic and allegorical for its own good.
Esme’s trek through the desert begins on an alarming note. The coyote “wants to wet his beak” as an additional payment for his services. A terrified Esme hides in the cowering group. The repugnant coyote advances toward a young girl (Maeve Garay) clutching her fearful mother (Morningstar Angeline). Esme begs him to stop. The coyote is impressed by her courage. Does she speak English? Esme quivers but responds yes. He gives her a card with a number. His cousin will have a job waiting for her if she makes it across the border. In Texas, Shipp prepares for his first raid with Evans. His mind still dwells on Yadira before Evans springs into brutal action.
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Perego, Saldaña’s husband and producing partner, shows the awful dangers faced by women and girls as they attempt illicit passage to America. They are helpless in the face of rape, robbery, and potential murder. But the horrors do not cease if they are successful. Esme becomes further indebted to the gang that enabled her crossing. She’s a slave to their whims with no escape or ability to refuse orders. Where can she run? Who will help her? The American police aren’t her saviors. She’ll be deported back into the vengeful clutches of the cartel.
Shipp battles his conscience as law enforcement. He doesn’t know Yadira’s immigration status. Their burgeoning relationship may directly conflict with his sworn oath of duty. Evans sees every Mexican as an enemy. What will he do if Yadira is undocumented? Shipp understands that his career is in jeopardy if he makes the wrong choice. Love doesn’t conquer all in the eyes of Evans or the US government.
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Overly Political Choices and Odd Religious Framing
The Absence of Eden has a decided viewpoint from the start. The undocumented are in desperate need of help while ICE are unfeeling brutes in their merciless responsibilities. This distinction is clear-cut and completely unfair. Evans is never defined as a bad apple spoiling the bunch. His ruthlessness mirrors the evil Mexican cartel and drug dealers controlling Esme. That’s a bridge too far.
Border patrol personnel risk their lives every day in a job at the center of a human catastrophe. They don’t dictate immigration policy. To generalize and lump their tactics in the same category as deplorable criminal organizations is a false and mistaken comparison. ICE agents aren’t raping and killing the undocumented en masse. The unfortunate truth is that those escaping to America take the risk because they believe better lives exist here. That’s not always true. Esme’s case is a good example. She would have been in worse hands remaining in Mexico.
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Perego combines astrological imagery of space and stars with Esme’s religious belief that God will provide salvation. That’s purely a guess. Perego’s intent isn’t obvious in this regard. One can assume that the title refers to Earth as a paradise lost for the undocumented. It’s a heady aspect to the film that confuses more than anything else.
Esme’s Appalling Situation
The Absence of Eden invokes a passionate response because you feel for Esme’s appalling situation. What she faces is honest, realistic, and cruel. That said, there needed to be an equal consideration of the other side. Those protecting the border are largely honorable. They don’t deserve to be generally maligned for doing their jobs.
The Absence of Eden is a production of Ashland Hill Media Finance, Cinestar Pictures, Ingenious Media, and Pioneer Pictures. It will be released theatrically on April 12th from Roadside Attractions.
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