On the Line

This film essentially begins with two young men by the names of "Chuck" (Jeff Delger) and his good friend "Jonathan" (Paul Richardson) driving down to Southern Texas to join the U.S. Immigration Service in Laredo. When they get there they meet an INS agent by the name of "Mitch" (Scott Wilson) who agrees to take them to see Chuck's uncle "Bryant" (David Carradine) who just happens to be residing across the border in Mexico. When they meet him Chuck is introduced to an attractive prostitute by the name of "Engracia" (Victoria Abril) and immediately falls in love with her. The problem is that Mitch is also in love with her and is possessive in his own twisted way. Further complicating matters is that Bryant is a notorious coyote and Mitch is determined to capture or kill him at the very first opportunity. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an interesting film due in large part to the location and the personal dynamics between all of the characters mentioned. Likewise, having a beautiful actress like Victoria Abril to enhance the scenery certainly helped in that regard as well. On the flip side, however, the film was rather crude and didn't seem to flow well from one scene to the next. Likewise, I would have preferred to have seen a bit more of David Carradine as his character was one of the most interesting ones. Be that as it may, despite the obvious flaws, I thought this movie was worth the time spent to watch it and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Set between Laredo (Texas) and Nuevo Laredo (Mexico) tells the old story about an extreme rivalry emerging of a border patrol agent called Mitch (Scott Wilson as two-fisted , violent guard in pursuit of illegal people) who is determined to catch his old nemesis named Bryant (David Carradine), an ex-colleague and ex patrolman . Bryant is an American criminal who successfully smuggles illegal aliens across the border from Mexico . Meanwhile , a newcomer , rookie patrolman , Chuck (Jeff Delger) who is in the ¨Border Patrol Academy¨, falls in love for a prostitute called Engracia (Victoria Abril) who has hard relations to Mitch . Chuck gets caught up in trying to help Engracia and marry her .

Spanish/US co-production frontier drama with excellent players and professionally directed by the great Spanish filmmaker/writer José Luis Borau . This acceptable drama develops a peculiar romance , a triangular love story with abundant nudism and erotic scenes , plenty of sadness and melancholy , between a young cop , a veteran policeman who sells freedom and a prostitute who sells pleasure . Thought-provoking and thoughtful script by Borau , he casts a suitable severe eye on the serious problem of illegal immigration in the Texas/Mexico border , heading a first-rate cast and giving a really dramatic narration . This is a 'rara avis' film of the 80s because dealing with a strong portrait of immigration , it didn't please the American public and most reviewers panned and censored it . Borau's conceptual and audacity , as well as the social criticism , result to be so evident in this film that resulted to be real flop in box office . This ¨Rio Abajo¨ belongs to ¨Mexican/US border immigration sub-genre¨ that in the eighties got several renditions such as ¨Borderline¨(80) by Jerold Freeman with Charles Bronson , Wilford Brimley , Ed Harris , Bruno Kirby and ¨The Border¨ (82) by Tony Richardson with Jack Nicholson , Harvey Keitel , Elpidia Carrillo , and Valeria Perrine .

Co-writer , producer , filmmaker Borau develops an extremely crude retelling , including violence , nudism and being decently shot . The flick deals with various interesting issues as immigration , corruption , jealousy , ¨Amor Fou¨ , and including some very dramatic scenes such as the surprising finale . Top-drawer acting by Scott Wilson as a veteran , violent and tough border patrol guard who is reckless enough . Victoria Abril gives a very good interpretation as the attractive and young whore ; even so , this role is no saint and it's hard to care too deeply about the fates of these unfortunate people trapped in the brutally depicted squalor of a Tex-Mex hell . Mediocre acting by Jeff Delger as a naive patrolman who test his own sense of decency refuses to become involved in the wholesale corruption rife . Support cast is pretty good , such as : David Carradine as Bryant who passes illegal human smuggling crossing the border and Jesse Vint as Chief Owens who faces corruption and violence within his department , among underlings and fellow border patrolmen . In addition , Mitch Pileggi , formerly his successful TV interventions and being last film project for Sam Jaffe .

Striking , fine cinematography by Teo Escamilla , including correct remastering and adequate outdoor sequences shot on location in Mexico and Texas . This unknown action/romance motion picture was compellingly directed by Jose Luis Borau , though failed at the Spanish box office . He managed to make a fluid , decent and enjoyable drama . Borau began as a Critic of cinema and to publish articles about cinema in newspapers . He enters the Spanish Official Cinema School where he later become a teacher and after that , he directed documentaries and films . He was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ; besides , member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1991 . Borau was one of the best Spanish filmmakers who alternated flops as ¨Rio Abajo¨, ¨Leo¨ , ¨El Monosabio¨, ¨Tata Mia¨, along with successes such as ¨La Sabina¨ , ¨Mi Querida Señorita¨ , ¨Hay Que Matar a B¨, and his greatest picture , the hit ¨Furtivos¨ (1975) that was one of the greatest successes of Spanish cinema and perhaps, one of the best Spanish films ever.

Although billed as action adventure, "On the Line" plays more like an off kilter romance, that happens to revolve around a Mexican whore, Victoria Abril. The conflict between Border Patrol officer, Scott Wilson, and smuggler David Carradine seems almost like an afterthought. Carradine's screen time is minimal, while Wilson more or less carries the film. Mention should be made of Sam Jaffe, who appears in a small role. Totally unacceptable is the amateurish lead performance by Jeff Delger. Indeed I have seen high school actors that delivered their lines far better than this actor wannabe. The choppy editing, and a story that seems stretched to the max almost drags this down to the mat, but not quite. If you admire Scott Wilson or David Carradine, see it, but only if you are prepared for the dreadful acting by Delger. - MERK

I saw this on video in the early 90s as "On the Line." It appeared to be in undubbed English. In the version I saw the two (or maybe three) story lines are not well integrated. One is the long standing rivalry between David Carradine, as a successful smuggler of illegal Mexican immigrants, and Scott Wilson, as an overzealous Border Patrol Agent. Another plot involves the arrival of two naive young men (related to one of the other characters, maybe Wilson) from the American Midwest, and the subsequent involvement of one of them with a Mexican prostitute played by Victoria Abril, who is quite good in the role. This portion of the film also examines the lives of a few of the other prostitutes who inhabit the brothel where Abril works. And it leads to an amusing cameo by Sam Jaffe as a somewhat senile crime lord. Perhaps the US video distributor had this film cut awkwardly to make it appear more of an action flick. For instance, David Carradine is top billed, but his screen time is not substantial--he pretty much disappears in the second half of the film. The film is well directed and photographed. It's evident that the writer/director had something beyond an exploitation flick in mind here. I would like to see the uncut Spanish version.