The topic of immigration from Mexico to the US remains tumultuous and divisive, and has been widely explored in documentary film. Clara Trischler’s effort, however, has a different tale to tell with Night of the Coyotes. Eye-opening and poignant, this film takes place in the community of El Alberto, with a population of fewer than 600 people, and introduces viewers to an unconventional and uncomfortable tourist attraction. The Caminata Nocturna is an educational and interactive hike where attendees participate in a one-night mock migrant journey of attempting to cross the border, complete with staged conflict and shootings, a pretend sexual assault, and detainment by law enforcement at the end.
The film’s dedication states that it was made as much for those who were left behind as for those who, for various reasons, never returned home. Night of the Coyotes deftly outlines all the brutal ways that crossing the border can go wrong, including injury or death by taking a train, becoming ill or dying of thirst while walking for days on end, getting caught and detained on either side by border patrol, or dying in the US from a workplace accident or some other manner. The Caminata Nocturna was created to simultaneously heal old wounds, draw attention to something important, be a cautionary tale, attract tourists, and create jobs for residents to thrive and perhaps rethink the dangerous trek.
The structure of the film mixes scenes of preparation for the event (obtaining props, rehearsals, coordinating, and so on) with stories from townsfolk who offer their opinions on the migration issue and what’s best for the town as its population dwindles from people leaving. Some want to try to cross to join their families, while others who have attempted to do so and were sent back are resolved to create a good life in El Alberto. We primarily follow Rebecca, a ten-year-old girl whose mother has crossed the border to find work, Virgilio, a father and former “coyote” (trafficker) who participates in the Caminata Nocturna as a border patrol agent, and Felicitas, a middle-aged woman contemplating visiting the US.
The hike itself is a side journey within the film. The actors are among the tourists, a few of whom smile, not taking everything seriously at first. What follows is an atypical form of dinner theater, only the events taking place are authentic reenactments of not one incident but countless lived experiences. The lines between play and reality inevitably blur as you see participants begin to wonder if they’ve actually signed up to attempt to cross the border. The climax, with the tourists watching from the ground as a woman is pulled away to be raped and people apparently shot, is intense. The scenario ends with the sudden arrival of Virgilio there to “arrest” the group, and while viewers don’t get to hear from the participants afterward, their stoic silence and bewildered expressions as they start the ride back to El Alberto speak volumes.
This film uses trauma in a unique and enlightening way to recycle an awful experience into something informative, productive, and healing. Five stars. Recommend. Editor's Choice.
Which library audiences would benefit from screening this documentary?
Though unsuitable for younger audiences due to its serious themes, Night of the Coyotes can still be a valuable part of library programming through DVD collections and community screenings. This film, with its immersive and engaging storytelling style, can bring awareness to a heavy issue and a new perspective that provides food for thought and wider discussion.
Can Night of the Coyotes be used in university course classrooms?
Academic librarians serving undergraduate and graduate schools would benefit from having Night of the Coyotes available in their film archive for students and teachers like. Given its multi-layered subject matter, this film could be a value-rich resource for human rights-related courses as well as political science courses that touch on border policy and immigration law. Media literacy and film studies students could also derive useful documentary-making techniques from this film, as it balances fly-on-the-wall observation with a linear narrative and a solid ending.
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