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Joe Castel's forbears came to America from Mexico via the railroad. In the early part of the century, it cost three cents to enter the U.S., and Mexican immigrants went to work for whichever railroad line picked them up. The Castel story traces the evolution of four family generations from a patriarchal great-grandfather who spoke only Spanish, to his younger sister who speaks only English (though she plans to take classes). The Castel's, who live in Silvin, Illinois, are an interesting bunch, who are divided between the past and the present, with the older generation familiar with the cultural traditions of Mexico, and the younger generation completely assimilated into the American culture: the country of their birth. The gap is crystallized when Joe shows his grandparents filmed footage that he shot in Mexico, and his elders explain to him what he filmed. And although the older footage used in the film is 8mm, this is not a home movie. On the contrary, Castel has innovatively added slow-motion, and other effects, to weave both a historical and artistic portrait of his family. Incidentally, the final conversation while the credits roll, between the elder sister and brother--the sister explaining to the brother that she still has a dent in the top of her head, where he poked her with a pencil--is priceless. Highly recommended. (See AROUND ROUND BARNS for availability).