Is sin nombre a true story?

Answer 1

Yes and no. The characters themselves are fictional, however the accounts of the story (The Mara Salvatrucha and the thing that happened on the train) are very real and accurate. Cary Joji Fukanawa, who wrote and directed Sin Nombre, actually interviewed any Mara Salvatrucha members who were willing to speak to him in order to make sure they and their customs, such as the tattoos, initiations, gestures, etc. were portrayed accurately. Fukanawa did such a good job at it that he has received a lot of feedback, both positive and negative, from Mara Salvatrucha members and former members, some of whom threatened to kill him. In addition, Fukanawa spent two years in research before writing Sin Nombre, collecting stories and riding the train with real life immigrants, many of whom he used as extras in the scenes where Willy, Sayra and her family are on the train.

Answer 2

"Sin Nombre" is a fictional movie directed by Cary Fukunaga. While the movie portrays the harsh realities of migration and gang violence in Mexico and Central America, it is not based on a specific true story.