Central American immigrants' journey

Question

I'd be grateful if you make this paragraph smooth. Thank you.

Basically, the travel is full of dangers. Since they move up north by riding on top of a train, they might fall off from it if they are not very careful. There is always a chance to get caught by border controls. Sometimes, they are threatened by gang members, who take immigrants’ money and belongings, as well as lives. Many start their journey, but few makes it to the U.S. The movie made me think why they desperately run a risk. I recommend this movie to everybody.

Básicamente, el recorrido está lleno de peligros. Porque se mueven hacia el norte por montar en la parte superior de un tren, es posible que se caiga de él si no sean muy cuidadosos. Siempre hay una oportunidad de quedar atrapados por los controles fronterizos. A veces, se ven amenazados por miembros de pandillas, que toman el dinero de los inmigrantes y sus pertenencias, así como la vida. Muchos comienzan su viaje, pero pocos lo hacen a los EE.UU. La película me hizo pensar por qué desesperadamente corren un riesgo. Recomiendo esta película a todo.

and how can I say "a must-see film?"

Answer 1

May I first suggest a more idiomatic English version? Here goes:

Fundamentally the journey is fraught with danger. As they travel North by riding on top of a train, they could fall off if they don't pay attention. There is the palpable risk of being caught by border police. Sometimes, they run the risk of being threatened by gang members, who take immigrants’ money and belongings, as well as lives. Many start their journey, but only a few make(no third person "s") it to the U.S. The movie made me think about why they desperately run such a risk. I heartily recommend this movie to everybody.

Please don't think I'm being pedantic, just trying to help. Your English is perfectly intelligible only those few elements make it sound "foreign" which is a problem I often have when trying to write in Castellano.

That story is interesting to me because my Grandfather jumped ship in New York and wandered around the US as a Hobo for some time. His chalk mark, his "moniker" was "Chicago Flash". They used to chalk their names on the roof of the carriage to keep in touch with other hobos. He got caught and imprisoned trying to cross the border between USA and Canada. He forgot that the Canadian Mounties were on horseback and, of course they were high enough up to see him clinging to the roof of the train. What is the film called?

I may try to do a Spanish translation later but I have to go and make dinner now. Ciao.

Thanks for your comment. The movie is called "Sin Nombre." - sarangnanum, Dec 9, 2010

Answer 2

Básicamente, el recorrido está lleno de peligros. Ya que se dirigen hacia el norte montados en la parte superior de un tren, es posible que se caigan si no son cuidadosos. Siempre hay oportunidad de ser atrapados por los controles fronterizos. A veces se ven amenazados por miembros de pandillas, que toman el dinero y las pertenencias de los inmigrantes, así como también la vida. Muchos comienzan el viaje, pero pocos lo hacen hasta los EE.UU. La película me hizo pensar el porqué corren un riesgo desesperadamente . Le recomiendo esta película a todos.

and how can I say "a must-see film?"... "Una película que se debe ver"

Good job!

Thanks a lot! - sarangnanum, Dec 9, 2010