Political issues are a common theme in John Sayles's movies, and "Men with Guns" is one of the most significant. Set in an unnamed Latin American country, Dr. Humberto Fuentes (Federico Luppi) has lived a privileged life and trained his students to tend to people out in the countryside. To be certain, Fuentes has never had any strong political convictions. But when he learns that his students have gotten murdered, he goes to investigate. He learns that the "men with guns" have been indiscriminately murdering the peasant population. The "men with guns" are any people who carry weapons: soldiers, rebels, or otherwise. The point is that to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, there's practically no difference between government troops and rebels.The movie has many qualities that make one forget that it's American-made. Aside from the mostly Latin American cast -- Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody play a pair of American tourists who are completely ignorant of the local culture -- the movie incorporates magical realism into its plot. Also, while most of the dialog is in Spanish, some scenes show people speaking Mayan, Kuna, Nahuatl and Tzotzil. But the movie's basic gist (Dr. Fuentes's eventual search for a village that has escaped the bloodshed) is summed up by a repeated line: "It's good to go where there are no white people." This is definitely one that I recommend.

I loved Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness and I loved Apocalypse Now, so it shouldn't be at all surprising that I loved Men With Guns. Like Apocalpyse, Sayles also uses humor to provide needed contrast and relief from what would otherwise be a very depressing story. As directed, the movie is sobering and quite funny at the same time, the characters are very interesting, and the overall effect is highly entertaining.

This movie has some of the most expertly drawn characters I've ever seen in a movie. The acting and writing is absolutely superb. The ending is uplifting, but not sappy or overly sentimental. It's the type of movie that can be watched again and again.

John Sayles writer & director of Lone Star (the best movie of 1996 IMHO) has done it again. Men With Guns should have been nominated as the best foreign language film of 1997,or even in the top 5 for best film. This very complex, but easily understood story of a dedicated Doctor in his quest for Students he trained to be doctors is compelling from beginning to end. We see the violence described eloquently,but very few visuals,but the images are planted in your mind & they will stay with you; a MUST see film for ALL those who like suspensful, well thought out stories, superbly acted, directed & edited. John Sayles wrote, directed & edited this film with care & dedication, a **** film One of the Best as alwaysJay Harris