Under the Same Moon (2008)

So much average

Simply Perfect

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Fantastic!

I just saw this film at a local college with a friend (I'll call him Fred) who has spent his career as a botanist managing and consulting for agricultural facilities in Southern California and in Mexico. More than just being fluent in the language he has a natural affection with the workers, both "illegals" in this country and those living below the border. When the film ended, I turned to him and asked, "Well, is this reality as you know it? Given that the plot could only illuminate one of many possible outcomes, the question is of plausibility, accuracy of character, and realism of depiction of the human beings who make up this perennial "social political issue."This film is an odyssey of only a week's length by a nine year old boy, Carlitos, who was forced by events to try to cross the border to join his mother living in L.A. The people who he came in contact with ranged from those who were about to bind him into sex slavery (my reasonable guess) to those who gave him a job washing dishes and grew to treat him like their son.Meanwhile his mother, Rosario, was torn between working two jobs to save up enough money to try to get documentation to bring him to America, or going back home, accepting the poverty that would await them both. This film depicts the underworld of the "Coyote industry" of smuggling Mexicans across the border, both professionals and free lancers, one who ended up taking Calitos. It also showed those who prey on illegals here. This included a stereotypical wealthy woman who fired Rosario withholding her back pay, mocking her remonstrations with "go ahead, call the police!" (As an aside, just this year California made this exact kind of extortion illegal) Fred had seen many Immigration raids over the years, but never with the violence depicted in the film. But the one in the film was in Texas, where the same federal agency, now called ICE, has a reputation for such violence, so this also was accurate. Finding creative hiding places to evade discovery is common, and he told me he would help to find such out of the way spots in the greenhouses he managed. Fred told me that decades ago border control was so lax that some of the workers who were picked up in the morning and dropped off in Tijuana where back at work by late afternoon.Borders are heart breakers, especially when two countries have widely divergent standards of living. The sacrifice of a mother for her child is a common occurrence among Filipino women who spend their children's childhood working in foreign lands, knowing them only by weekly phone calls as were depicted in this film, as being the only way to give them an education that would raise them out of poverty.As the film was nearing the ending, and the Rosario was about to go back to her son n Mexico, not knowing that he was only blocks away in America, and that that circumstances would allow them to remain together in this "Promised Land," I fervently hoped for a "Hollywood Ending." Whether or not I got one, I won't divulge, since I want to leave off the spoiler alert. But I can convey that this film gives you a slice of reality that is an issue that the U.S. and other countries will face continuously, whether or not we pass Immigration Reform at this time.It is a part of the world we live in, some countries blessed with wealth and opportunity and others on a treadmill of poverty, a reality made very human by this admirable cinematic presentation.

Under the Same Moon was an adventurous, heartbreaking, and thrilling film all in one. One could not help but become attached to Carlitos in his journey from Mexico to Los Angeles to find his mother. His mother Rosario crosses the border illegally when Carlitos is little so she can start a new life for them and one day bring him to America. Once Carlitos grandmother dies, he has nothing left for him in Mexico so he decides it his time to cross the border and be reunited with his mother. This movie follows Carlitos' expedition while attempting to cross the border, in a heart wrenching series of twists the audience just wants to yell out to Carlitos to aid him in finding his mother. A helpful stranger along the way turns into Carlitos most important companion at the end of the novel. The sacrifices that are made in this movie show that there are still purely good people in the world. I would rate this movie with an 8. I really enjoyed watching it and my eyes were glued to the screen, yet the story was a little unbelievable for my taste. I don't think it is possible for a 9 year old boy to cross the border alone given all the risks. I would still definitely recommend the movie because it does show the dedication to family and what family members will do for one another in order to be together.

The movie "Under the Same Moon" is a touching story that shows an insight into the obstacles one can face when crossing the Mexican-US border. The film follows a young boy named Carlitos, who is desperately trying to reunite with his mother who lives Los Angeles. The film starts with the two on separate borders, and Carlitos only keeping contact with his mother through daily telephone calls. The filming of Mexico shows the devastating conditions some people had to live in. Carlitos is watched over by his very ill grandmother, who eventually dies. Once she dies, Carlitos starts his mission of finding his mother across the border. The film follows Carlitos on his journey through security checks, deceitful people, no money to aid his journey, and no idea how to navigate the United States. This story, while a heart-wrenching tale, can be criticized as not accurate to a real attempt at crossing the border. Many argue that the security check at the border is not realistic at all. But, the point of the movie is not to account for every detail of illegally crossing the border. The point of the movie is to tell a story of a family divided, and a son trying to reunite with his mother. In this perspective, the movie is excellent, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a bit of culture and emotion. If you are looking for an exact account of illegal immigration, a documentary might be a better option. Otherwise, this movie is a great look into the hardships Mexican families have to face.

Under the Same Moon is quite a compelling and interesting story. The movie is about Carlitos's adventure across the Mexican border to venture to Los Angeles, California to reunite with his mother, Rosario for the first time in four years. The story shows the many hardships that Carlitos's had to endure, but in the end his never ending perseverance pulled through. Under the Same Moon does a wonderful job of enlightening the viewers on the hardships illegal immigrants face upon crossing the border and once across. It also shows how far a little kindness can bring you. Carlitos's journey is an interesting one to witness blossom. His journey crosses paths with many people, primarily Enrique. He bonds with Enrique, who later realizes the importance of the journey to Carlitos and acts courageously in standing up for Carlitos. The movie has many hidden messages and themes throughout the movie that appeal to the viewer's ethos and pathos. The movie follows its theme of the challenges of crossing the border, whether it is a physical or emotional border. It challenges the viewers to understand what life is like for an illegal immigrant and it is quite eye-opening. The movie was all-in-all a strong and passionate movie with a strong supporting story. I would have to rate it an 8/10.