User Reviews

After watching this movie and reading the reviews, the best thing that I can say is...it's complicated. People are going to watch this movie and see the story differently.

Upon entry is the story of a couple, Diego and Elena, emigrating from Spain to the United States. They are selected for extra screening at customs, which becomes a long an arduous process for them. From the beginning, the agents who deal with them are very terse, and while maybe not discourteous they certainly are not polite either. The couple is taken from the original intake area to a secondary area without explanation. Their concerns about making a connecting flight and wanting to contact a family member they were hoping to meet on their layover are ignored by the agents. They are subjected to numerous questions, some of a personal nature, which may be necessary and reasonable but are handled with little tact by the agents.

As our story develops, we find that Diego has previously tried to gain entry to the US and been denied. It is also revealed that prior to the start of relationship with Elena, he was engaged to a woman who lived in the United States that he had never met in person. It also appears there was some overlap between that relationship and his with Elana. He also had not told Elana about the relationship. It also showed that Diego was from Venezuela and didn't want to go back, so he was somewhat dependent on Elena - certainly to get into the US because she won the Visa lottery.

Now, in my mind the movie presented these in a manner that raised suspicion - but it did not seem to give a clear answer to it. I somewhat think that the investigators weren't sure either, but just hoped to interrogate them so harshly to see if they would break - either that or they were just pure sadist.

As the interrogation comes to a close, it appears that Elena has become completely distrustful of Diego. However, she is told at the end of her solo interrogation that she can come into the country without him. The film cuts away before she answers, and shows her being led back into the waiting room where she intentionally sits several seats away from Diego. She appears hurt, and says she just wants to go home. Diego seemingly tries to explain himself, causing her to leave to use the restroom where she washes her face, and seemingly composed herself.

Both are called to the desk where, their passports are stamped and they are told "welcome to America" with the film Immediately ending.

What I take from this movie is that it actually poses a question to the viewer by showing people "at their worst" and asking you to make a decision about them. I like to think that the immigration agents are overworked, underpaid, have a very hard job and were having a very bad day...but had a legitimate purpose rather than simply being bad people. I like to believe that Elena and (especially) Diego were 100 percent legitimate in their aims, even if they weren't always perfect.

I gave this movie a high rating because I believe it is well done, thought provoking a worth a watch.

Directed and written by Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez, this is the story of Diego (Alberto Ammann) and Elena (Bruna Cusí) as they attempt to enter the United States. Their trip stops in New York City, where they had hoped to see Diego's brother before moving to Miami. But as they are lost inside customs, they may never go anywhere.

The frightening thing about Upon Entry is how realistic it is while how much it also feels like something out of Kafka. They get no answers, no food, no water and instead question after question about everything in their lives, which slowly become more intrusive and therefore painful to attempt to answer.

We learn nothing of the situation and these characters other than from the answers that Diego and Elena give to the man and woman (Ben Temple and Laura Gómez) interrogating them. As we wish to learn who they are and why they are being kept, we become complicit in the way they are mistreated.

There are moments throughout this film that disarmed me and then would worry me, as I was caught up in the same questioning techniques, feeling trapped in the same small room as this film's heroes. Is this what it's like to come to the land of opportunity? And yet some will see them and their foreign origins as reasons to see them as less than human beings. This movie frightens me the more I consider it.

What an incredible work. This needs to be seen.

Diego (Albert Ammann), a Venezuelan urbanist, and Elena, a contemporary dancer from Barcelona, move to the United States with their approved visas to start a new life. Their intention is to boost their professional careers and start a family in 'the land of opportunities'. But upon entering New York airport's immigration area, they are taken to the secondary inspection room, where border officers and agents (Ben Temple, Laura Gómez, David Comrie, Colin Morgan) will subject them to an unpleasant inspection process and a psychologically grueling interrogation. Along the way, they're flagged by the border agents and forced to endure an invasive probe into their lives. During the following few hours, the fate of Elena, Diego and their dreams is placed under question as the official who interviews them reveals hidden secrets they have not yet shared with each other or disclosed in the previous application process, endangering the whole process and their mutual trust.

Bruna Cusi (Summer 1993, La Vampira de Barcelona, El sustituto ) and Alberto Ammann (Celda 211, Narcos, Betibú) star in this suffocating thriller in which they play a young couple - he is Venezuelan, she is Spanish - who travels to the United States in search of a change in life. An interrogation room always arouses tension and nervousness in those being interrogated, but the suspense is even greater if it is located in the immigration zone of the United States. Upon arriving at the immigration zone, they are immediately taken to an inspection room where they are subjected to an indiscreet and violent interrogation in which dark hidden secrets will emerge.

Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vasquez's debut film is a critique of the American immigration system based on mistrust, abuses of power, racism and the use of terror as a tool of coercion. The film got several nominations and prizes, such as: Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2023 Nominated Best Film International Competition Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vasquez 2023 Ganador SIGNIS. Award International Competition Málaga Spanish Film Festival, Nominado Golden Biznaga Best Spanish Film Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vasquez , Alberto Ammann 2023 Ganador Silver Biznaga Best Actor. Tetouan International Mediterranean Film Festival 2023 Ganador Critics' Prize "Mustapha Mesnaoui" Main Competition Alejandro RojasJuan Sebastián Vasquez. Raindance Film Festival 2023 Nominado Raindance Award Best Screenplay Alejandro RojasJuan Sebastián Vasquez. José María Forqué Awards Alberto Ammann 2023 Nominado José María Forqué Award Best Actor Alberto Ammann. Kolkata International Film Festival Carles Torras 2022 Ganador Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Best Film Alejandro Rojas (director)Juan Sebastián Vasquez (director)Carles Torras (producer) Carlos Juárez (producer), among others. Rating: 6/10. Acceptable y passable film , though some tiring and dull.

But mocking around with the united states immigration services, are just as taken out of a text book. And is also one of the reasons that i hesitate travelling to the united states of america, even though i have nothing to worry about, my mother in-law stories about travelling hickups at john f. Kennedy airport whilst attempting to visiting her sister in new bedford really understates this films couples arraingment obstacles.

Very natural done main acts, the soothing music of the spanish/catalan tounge is marvelous, set up and production are great at a low european budget line, and the uncertainty of the destiny of these visa applicants hangs over you like an icesickle...

so if your in for action and horror the grumpy old man would rather recommend ''capelito, the little mushrom'' cause you may find more of that there, ''upon entry'' is pure drama with a double edge human touch. Recommendante?? Si si...

Welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave, a sanctuary for the world's poor, tired and huddled masses. Or is it? That's the question raised in this gripping, edgy debut feature from the writing-directing duo of Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez. When a Spanish couple (Alberto Ammann, Bruna Cusí) relocating to the US on legally obtained visas to begin a new life, they're detained by authorities on arrival at the New York port of entry for intense questioning about matters of an undisclosed nature. With no explanation for the interrogation, they're subjected to an increasingly intrusive line of questioning by two antagonistic agents (Ben Temple, Laura Gómez) who offer no rationale for their hostile scrutiny. It's an exercise on par with an increasingly brutal fraternity hazing ritual, one aimed at ultimately trying to uncover some kind of allegedly illegal scheme driven by trumped-up speculation and the couple's growing resistance to cooperate, especially when they seem to be guilty at best of failing to dot a few i's and cross a few t's. They become reluctant to answer highly personal questions, leading to circumstances that eventually threaten to tear apart the fabric of the duo's obviously loving relationship. While it's certainly reasonable to employ prudent security precautions in immigration and customs scenarios, is this kind of unduly malicious treatment really necessary, particularly when the couple ostensibly appears to be playing by all the rules? Is this the America we want, one driven by paranoia and pervasive suspicion? And, if so, then why would anyone want to come here in the first place, even when making a diligently concerted effort to follow all of the legally sanctioned protocols? This film sends a powerful message about these kinds of practices, especially given that some of them have actually been in place far longer than most American citizens are aware of. These issues are disturbingly brought to life by the film's meticulously crafted writing, which keeps characters and viewers alike guessing about what's playing out, combined by the superb performances of the four principals, who effectively convey the anguish and fright being wrought on screen. This Tubi TV offering is highly deserving of its three Independent Spirit Award nominations for best first feature, best first screenplay and best editing, even if it's also the kind of picture that makes audiences uneasy - but, then, maybe that's the point behind it, too, a goal at which it succeeds brilliantly.

A well crafted piece of cinema that will deeply keep you unsettled till the end... Directors Alejandro & Vasquez take on a tale that happens on a daily basis in an american immigration unit based on a true testimonies and experiences,the flick clearly gives u a brief interrogations with some intense moments that will dig the lives of every common individuals and torment their relationship... With a few characters the lead actors Alberto & Bruna create a ripple effect that makes you haunted by the questions thrown on them & the manipulation leads to a remarkable piece of political cinema... Major supports comes from editor Emanuele Tiziani whose nerve wrecking energy makes u strangle in few moments... With nothing more to reveal dont miss this cinematic wonder.

This review contains major spoilers. I will be discussing major plot points and the ending. Please don't read further if you don't want to know what happens in the film.

A Spanish-speaking couple arrive in America from Spain and show their passports to the immigration officer who asks them to come with him while further checks are made. The woman is Spanish and the man is originally from Venezuela. The officers questioned them and their questions were perfectly reasonable, especially in light of what we learned about the two subsequently. It became apparent that the man had been trying to game the immigration system and was with this Spanish woman out of convenience, which the Spanish woman had genuinely been unaware of. All of the acting and direction in the film was excellent. I have never been in this sort of situation of being questioned by immigration officers but everything rang true and felt authentic, it was almost like watching a fly on the wall documentary.

Near the end the film got to the point where it looked like the woman would be allowed entry into the US because she had done nothing wrong and had a legitimate visa but the man would be refused because he was there under false pretences and had tricked his female companion. And then right at the end, the immigration officer called them to his desk, stamped their pasports, gave them back to them and welcomed them to America. Then it ended. I still don't know what the film's message was? Is it that the immigration system is stupid and should have just let them in (and perhaps should just let anyone in) without asking questions? Why after establishing clearly that the man was there under dubious circumstances, would they have allowed him in? It made no sense to me. He had no visa in his own right and didn't even have a job offer. If they had denied him entry then I don't think many people would have taken issue with it. My guess is a lot of people would have been confused by this ending.

It is a political film with a political message, but if that message is misunderstood by its viewers then the film has to be considered a failure. However, the acting, writing and direction are so good that it is still worth seeing. Perhaps you will understand it better than I do. Well made but confusing film.