NO TURNING BACK - DIRECTOR'S NOTES

by Jesús Nebot

"No Turning Back" is a story inspired on actual events that had to be told. A film that aspires to bring together social and cinematic values within a realm of current events, it portrays an event that could happen to anyone, and the controversy that follows. The innocence, the desperation, the suffering of losing a daughter, the fear of the unknown, and the strength of forgiveness are a few of the elements that bring this feature film to life.

It is the story of an illegal immigrant involved in a traffic accident, who fearful of losing the custody of his six-year-old daughter, decides to run away from the authorities, as they are both being filmed by a guerilla journalist.

The protagonist is an educated, English literature professor from Honduras, with strong ethics, but when presented with a moral dilemma, he makes a poor decision. His goal is to be part of the system, which persecutes him for an accident that drastically affects his plans of providing a better future for his daughter.

Aside from the moral dilemma, the film puts into question the "American Dream." Pablo and Cristina are poor and wanted by the police. However, the relationship they share is so pure that it stirs up jealousy in the journalist who follows them. A young woman with all the financial needs at her reach, yet a lack of love in her life.

The film also explores the cultural and generational clashes of different characters that are forced to live and work together. This is especially obvious with the tense relationship between the two detectives who are in pursuit of Pablo. In the end, their lack of communication has tragic consequences.

Furthermore, "No Turning Back" presents the controversial role the media plays during tragic events. The journalist is motivated by her selfishness to have a marketable story. However, the events the journalist witnesses transform her into a more enlightened person as she realizes how the media can become a catalyst in uniting human beings.

The film also lets us appreciate the power of forgiveness. A family who initially loses their daughter in a tragic accident ends up transforming their grief into a truly inspiring act of generosity that heals their hearts from the unfathomable pain.

Additionally, the film explores the struggle of undocumented immigrants and its social consequences, a subject of a heated debate all over the world.

Finally, "No Turning Back" presents us, through its characters, the cultural and ethnic diversity so prominently present in the United States, which is slowly becoming a reality in the rest of the world. It brings to our attention the importance of having respect and appreciation for other cultures in order to build a society in which we can all live peacefully.

My ultimate goal with "No Turning Back" is to let it serve as a platform of debate for themes, which fundamentally affect our society.