Where They Went

The Golden Dream (2013)

Directed by Diego Quemada-Díez

Three teenagers from Guatemala City set out for the United States, cross into Chiapas, ride freight trains the length of Mexico with a Tzotzil boy and try to cross the desert from Mexicali.

  • Travel shown
  • On foot, bike, skis or swimming
  • Not shown on screen
  • Fictional place
  1. 1Guatemala City, Guatemala
    ≈ 00:00:00
    Inferred

    Juan, Sara and Samuel leave their slum neighbourhood to head north.

  2. 2Chiapas border area, Mexico
    ≈ 00:10:00
    Stated on screen

    Across the river they meet Chauk and busk for food until immigration police rob them and deport them.

  3. 3Deportation drop-off
    Guatemala–Mexico border
    ≈ 00:25:00
    Inferred

    Dumped at the border, Samuel gives up and stays, while the others cross again.

  4. 4Mexicali, Mexico
    ≈ 01:25:00
    Stated on screen
  5. 5Border desert
    Desert near the US–Mexico border, California
    ≈ 01:35:00
    Inferred
  6. 6Meat plant
    Phoenix, Arizona
    ≈ 01:42:00
    Inferred

The journey in numbers

Distance travelled
3,814 km
Places
6
Countries
3
Stops
6
  • Train: 3,087 km
  • Not shown: 525 km
  • Boat: 203 km

Distances are measured in a straight line between stops, so real road distances are longer.

Spotted a mistake?

Every journey is checked against the film, but we can still get things wrong.