WARNING

This review contains information that can be considered offensive to those who find adult sexual topics objectionable. This is not a review of an adult film however this review deals with the sexual nature of the contents of the film. Please proceed at your own caution




Now, before anyone starts foaming at the mouth, the title of the video is extremely deceiving. You might think that you are getting an adult feature [porn] judging from the title - Sex on the Border - but as usual, looks can be deceiving. This video is part of a series of films designed to give you a glimpse into the sexual world of Mexico, Thailand, The Philippines, Bangkok, Costa Rica and Rio de Janeiro. It was created to give you a visual tour of the streets of Tijuana, local hot spots for picking up ‘working girls’ and private clubs that cater to those seeking an intimate encounter.

Sex at the Border

While classified as a "tourist video", it’s more voyeurism than hard-core facts. Some of the video quality is poor but there are some parts that are definite keepers. Most of the women shown are of a higher quality than you would normally see strolled down Revolution Avenue after dark. You have to keep in mind that almost half the places shown on this video are closed, run under different names or are places that have since turn to scamming the Americans that come there.

The rating for this video should be "R" however since it is officially listed as a documentary it falls into a gray area and carries the "Not Rated" status. This video should have the "R" rating for the adult themes and brief nudity and when I say brief I mean brief. Blink and you will most definitely miss it. Some people may say that I am being a little too critical on the ratings scale but this isn't exactly something that you would want your kids watching is it?

Father: "What did you learn today son?"
Son: "Gosh Dad, I learned how to find hookers in Tijuana!"


Resembling something that you would see shot with a home video camera set-up, the crew films girls who are standing on street corners or outside dance clubs. I'll get into this later but solicitation in public places is against the law, prostitution is not illegal but asking for sex or offering sex in trade for money on public property is. Yeah, that takes a while to understand but those are the rules of Tijuana. A few of the girls approach the camera, the good-looking girls that is, and start to ask if anyone wants to party. Just like the pick-up line in the United States, "Are you looking for a date?" this is the Mexican equivalent of "Are you looking to get lucky?" I was amazed to see so many above average women in this video because they must have all been on vacation or had prior engagements on the numerous occasions I've visited Tijuana. I have no doubt in my mind that these girls were paid to talk to the camera and chances are they weren't even prostitutes. The box claims that all the girls featured in the video are "authentic Mexican prostitutes". What, do they have it tattooed on their butt like the USDA Seal of Approval for beef?

You are taken to a few strip clubs and given the low down on what to look for outside the club. One club I really expected to get a lot more exposure was Adelita Bar [also known as the Adelita Club]. This is one of the more popular places in Tijuana and does a tremendous business on weekends and during American holidays. Most of the clients that frequent this place are looking for oral services however from what I have been told, they do offer more. The Chicago Club is given about two minutes of exposure as well as Rico's, which now operates under the name Las Chavelas. A few of the other "clubs" that are shown, but not in great detail, include Chicago, Manhattan, Miami [the old Miami] and Venice, a short lived establishment that folded when they refused to pay off the cops.

The motels and hotels that are shown are some of the nicer ones, again, they aren't going to show you the run down, dilapidated ones now are they? Motel Aragon and Hacienda Del Rio are the two that were openly identified on the video and I am not sure if they are still in business since I haven't been to Zona Centro or Zona Rio. I asked a few people who go to Mexico often [not for sex] and they weren't sure if these places were still in business. That is one of the biggest detractors about this type of 'travel video', most of the information is grossly exaggerated or obsolete. Would you read a magazine from 1999 if you were looking to purchase a 2002 model car? I think not.

As far as the hotels that are shown in the video, one thing they fail to mention is that if you take a prostitute to one of these places you are going in blindly. You don't know if the police are going to bust in and shake you down, if she is going to steal your cash or worse pull a knife on you. Some rates are quoted for the different establishments and it is the clients responsibility to pay for the room, it is not part of the deal.



Shady Items

The topic of "legal prostitution" is never really answered during the video. The issue is skirted and vaguely referred to but a flat out answer is never given. The legal age for consensual sex in Mexico is 18, however prostitution as a whole is not recognized as a crime. "Strippers" who happen to work at clubs where sexual exchanges take place are supposed to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases on a regular basis as well as carry a current test result card with them while they are working. Legalized prostitution is a gray area; some say it is legal, others say it isn't. From what I have read it is a crime that gets ignored.

While prostitution is not a "crime", you could get in trouble if you proposition someone in a public place or engage in a sexual activity of any nature in or on public property. Again, the video does not disclose these facts, if anything they make it seem like women are hanging out of their window, waving their underwear over their head saying "Hey sailor boy". Totally not the case.

What It Doesn't Tell You

While the producers tell you about the bordellos, prostitution dens and hookers they leave out some key information. Information that, if disclosed, could possible drive sexual tourists away from the area. Not once is it mentioned the number of sexually transmitted diseases that are currently floating around south of the border. In fact, I think I head the word condom used twice. Condoms are not openly sold in Mexico so if you are planning a trip and hope to "get lucky" you should really consider packing a box or two away. They are sold, but you have to remember that Catholicism is very big in Mexico so condoms are a big no-no. You can buy them at some stores but I'd really suggest bringing your own with you so you don’t have to hunt them down and you are 100% sure of the expiration date.

The number of transsexuals* is low in Tijuana but they do exist. Some of them migrate from Rio de Janeiro or Brazil and work the streets in Mexico to save up enough money to come to the United States to have sexual reassignment surgery or find a wealth man to "care for them". Most of the transsexuals that are new to the scene will only give oral services to "new clients" since they fear being beaten up or worse if they are found out.

The biggest thing not address is the bait and switch operations that happen all the time. You are shown one female prostitute and after paying for the service you are told to "go over there" or in the case of a bordello you are given a room number. When you get "there" most of the time you encounter something resembling Jabba The Hutt or a minor. If you try to get your money back, you'll have a nice time trying to find the person your forked your cash out to.

These are not urban legends or tall tales told over a cold beer, they are the events that have happened to people I know [not exactly the brightest bunch] or events that occurred to their friends when they accompanied them to Tijuana. Just like everyday life, if something looks too good to be true or you are made promises that seem extraordinary – chances are you are getting scammed.

The Bottom Line

I can't recommend this video to anyone, unless you just need a good [expensive] laugh that is. The information on the video is outdated, some of the places do still exist but are not as pleasant as they are made to appear in the video. As I said earlier, if you were looking to purchase a car would you pick up a copy of Car & Driver from 1999 to get specs on a 2002 model? No, you wouldn't. This video had a shelf life that expired long ago. Some of the prices that were quoted at Half.com were outrageous. The list price [suggested retail price] of $79.98 almost made me fall out of my chair with laughter. Even the Half.com price of $35.00 was still a total rape. Do you know how many DVD's you can buy with that wad of money?

After watching this film you might feel like you need a shower. I watched it with a few other people and while we all joked about it we knew the truth. Many of the girls that are prostitutes are doing it for one of two reasons, they are dirt poor or they are forced into it by boyfriends, pimps or their own families. While there are some clubs that operate on the up and up and follow the rules, chances are that if you go to Tijuana looking for a "hook up" you might just cross back across the border with a little more than you bargained for.

I am not condoning or condemning prostitution, I am simply trying to save someone the time, effort and expense of hunting this down and purchasing it. If you are dead set on pursuing prostitution in Mexico there are adult publications available that will give you current, honest and accurate information. Contact your local adult bookstore or newsstand for more information.

The Stats

Release Date: 1999
Rating: Not Rated
["R" type contents]
Run Time 53 minutes
Director Eric Dexter
UPC: VHS 750 583-572 61-5

As always, thanks for the read…

^V^ Freak ^V^


Glossary


* - Transsexual. A male that has chosen to live his life as a woman but has not had sexual reassignment surgery. Most have taken hormones and have had breast implants. A pre-op transsexual is one that has not converted to the opposite sex but lives the lifestyle. A post-op is one that has had the male sex organs removed.



Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age