Marlon Cruz, a young Colombian man who motivated by his girlfriend Reina, leaves his comfortable life in Medellin and flees with her through Guatemala and Mexico, across the borders, illegally into the United States.
Unfortunately, aside from the glimpses of the couple's nightmarish crossing, Brand never commands an aesthetic that galvanizes the pic's rather conventional moral oppositions.
– Ronnie Scheib,
Variety,
22 Jul 2009
rotten:
Paraiso Travel traces the route familiar to many undocumented Latino immigrants on their way to the States; it also retreads the common themes featured in movies about their experiences.
– Monika Fabian,
Time Out New York,
23 Jul 2009
fresh:
Jorge Franco's novel about a young Colombian couple who take a shot at the American Dream and land at the far side of paradise has made a vibrant transition to the big screen courtesy of acclaimed commercial and music video director Simon Brand.
– Michael Rechtshaffen,
Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jul 2009
fresh:
The tangled issue of illegal immigration gives Paraiso Travel its motivation, but thoughtful storytelling and committed performances give the movie its heart.