How do you solve a problem like Dayani Cristal?
This question poses two different challenges for director Marc Silver and his audience. Silver attempts to address the complex issue of illegal immigration in the United States by exploring the case of one young man found dead in Arizona’s Sonora Desert after crossing the Mexico-U.S. border. Just one of the 200 immigrants who fall victim to the journey every year, this unknown had one identifying feature: a tattoo of ‘Dayani Cristal’ across his chest.
The procedural documentary aspect of the film follows the official investigation into the man’s death, revealing both the reasons behind and dangers of illegal border-crossing. Meanwhile, actor and producer Gael Garcia Bernal retraces John Doe’s steps, joining some Hondouran, Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants on their quest for a better life.
While Silver’s challenge is to combine elements of documentary, re-enactment and narrative filmmaking, the audience’s is to see past the somewhat distracting and narcissistic presentation to the real tragedy. Though Bernal is a passionate and empathetic spokesman– and, more cynically, bait for reluctant cinema-goers– his gold-lit journey atop desert-traversing trains, across lazy rivers and through impromptu soccer matches with his new “brothers” feels uncomfortably idealised and lacking in self-awareness. As the director focuses on shooting the handsome Bernal’s gravely hushed navel-gazing about fraternity and hope, his companions and their real stories remain unspoken.
Using individual human stories to address complex issues, Silver’s nobly intentioned film is filled with glimpses of insight and pathos - but stumbles due to its misguidedly star-driven narrative. However, Silver deserves kudos for asking Who is Dayani Cristal – as contained within that is the question of who are the people determined to invest billions in a border wall instead of investing in humanity?