Operation Wetback: Richard "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A.

Somethings refuse to change and what was true three and a half decades ago continues to be true today. With a nation struggling under the hand of an adminstration refusing to look at human beings as anything more than numbers, "Cheech" Marin's Born in East L.A. seems even more relevant today than it did when it premiered in the summer of 1987. Marin's film (the first of his projects after the end of his partnership as the ground-breaking comedy troupe, Cheech & Chong) is a - at points a silly and slapdash - look at immigration, deportation, and the struggle for the American Dream. I would argue that it's the "Most Chicano" film ever made; the one that most accurately depicts the experience of being Mexican-American, working and living in the United States. Marin's film is silly and - at times - sloppy, but it has true heart and a point of view rarely seen in cinema before and since. As always, the film is a stepping stone to the conversation that revolves around the real world. It is with great pleasure that we look at this film with old and new eyes. Take a listen and let us know what you think. We can always. be reached at [email protected] - Many Thanks!

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