This semester, I have had to sit through a bunch of not-so-great films in my global road movie class. The not-so-great ones have consisted of cheaply made documentaries and films that have conveyed the essence of a journey with little to no effect on the characters. With Under the Same Moon, we get a story about a clear journey of a young boy, Carlitos, trying desperately to cross the border into the U.S. and finding his mother in L.A.Some may find this unrealistic, but Carlitos is amazingly intelligent at the age of 9. He has a special way of connecting with adults and sometimes manipulating them in order to get what he wants. This is not to say there is a maniacal or evil motive behind what Carlitos wants from adults, but he is a natural at convincing others to help him, and he must be since he is limited due to his age.On the reverse side, we see his mother living in L.A. in order to make money to support little Carlitos with not one, but two jobs as a maid. She is constantly questioning what will help her son in the long run, which is heartbreaking since Carlitos sometimes thinks that his mother abandoned him. What adds to the mother's struggle is the fact that she is an "illegal," so she must also decide what puts her in a better position to support her only child.While the mother's story is more dramatic, Carlitos' journey is full of heart and many laughs, especially after he befriends a man named Enrique. Basically, Carlitos depends on this stranger, but Enrique is reluctant to help since the kid annoys him. It is a great love/hate relationship which has us hoping Enrique will come to his senses and do the right thing.I love how the film combines aspects of the melodrama with the political issue of immigration which is tied to desperation for work. There is little to say about the film in a negative manner except that it may seem cheesy at certain points. Also, if you're looking for a film with complexity you may want to look elsewhere since the plot for this film is simple and straightforward, but it is a fun and touching story.3.5/4.0

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 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.

"Under the Same Moon" is a story about overcoming obstacles, striving for a better life, and the power of love. It revolves around Rosario, a Mexican immigrant living in the United States so that she can provide a better life for both her son and her self. We see aspects of both Rosario's life living in the United States and her son's, Carlitos', life living in Mexico. Although the kinds of hardships each character faces differ, they both must lead difficult lives in their respective countries. After Carlitos' grandmother dies, leaving him alone, Carlitos decides that he must find his mother. Without much of a plan, Carlitos embarks on a journey across the border and throughout the United States, meeting a string of characters, both good and bad, along the way. The story is heart-wrenching and real, giving insight into an immigrant's every day life. The movie also depicts the dangers of crossing the Mexican border. Although there are many aspects to the movie that are very realistic, the story of Carlitos' success is somewhat unbelievable. However, the movie is entertaining and evokes sympathy from the viewers. It is a good movie overall and I very much enjoyed getting to know the different kinds of people Carlitos meets during his journey, each one giving more insight into an immigrant's life living in the United States.