“The In Between” is a heartfelt yet modest film that treads the delicate line between personal memoir and cultural exploration. From its low-quality, grainy visuals and unfortunately sluggish pacing, it’s evident that this production was made on a shoestring budget. Within its unassuming framework lies a story that feels deeply personal and genuine, even if it’s not well executed as a whole.
Following the death of her brother, director Robie Flores takes audiences on a nostalgic journey back to her hometown of Eagle Pass, a small town located on the Texas-Mexico border. Through a series of vignettes showcasing the everyday experiences of borderland youth (quinceañeras, Selena tributes, river excursions) the film captures the essence of a community often overlooked by mainstream media.
What sets the film apart is its refusal to succumb to sensationalism or stereotypes about border communities. Instead, Flores presents a nuanced and humanizing portrayal of life in this vibrant bi-cultural and bi-national enclave. Through her lens, the border becomes more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right, pulsating with resilience and spirit.
Flores tries to make her personal story interesting, but it’s not very compelling nor universal. The film feels like something that’s made for the filmmaker’s family rather than a larger audience. She captures a sense of place, but the vignettes of everyday life just aren’t that compelling.
The pacing is painfully slow and the storytelling leisurely lyrical, which both prove frustrating. It’s exacerbated when Flores leans too heavily on voice over narration, which feels like a lazy afterthought.
I didn’t enjoy “The In Between,” but I still admired its poignant meditation on loss, resilience, hope, and Flores’ willingness to challenge conventional narratives about the barriers that exist between the U.S. and Mexico border.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 