Under the Same Moon (2007)

This is an outstanding movie.

Many people castigate illegal aliens as death to the American economy. This movie lets the viewer walk in the illegals' shoes for a few weeks. What a tear jerker this movie is, but I loved it dearly! September 26, 2008

great movie!

I love this film
and the price was very attractive compared to other on line stores! September 23, 2008

A Beautiful Story

And to think, I almost missed this movie... that would have been a serious loss on my part. Under the Same Moon almost flew under my radar after a read a few critical reviews of it that stressed the director's inexperience and reliance on clichés... and yes it does get a little heavy handed with the emotions. But it has a very compelling story, whether you believe in open borders or 50 foot high concrete walls.

Carlito's contacts with his mother have been limited for the last four years to a once a week phone call to the local pay phone. She's working in Los Angeles (illegally) and trying to save enough money for an immigration attorney to legalize her status and bring Carlito to live with her. In the meantime, he lives with his grandmother and scratches for coins by selling chewing gum and doing odd jobs. The film establishes him as a very resourceful kid early on, which lends a degree of believability to later developments.

When his grandmother dies, Carlito enlists the help of two well-meaning (but decidedly amateur) people smugglers (one of whom played with understated perfection by America Ferrara of Ugly Betty fame). As you might guess, things go wrong and Carlitos is soon fending for himself to travel from Texas to LA.

Under the Same Moon could have been just a hokey piece of immigration propaganda, but it focuses more on a story of love held by mother and son. And if you're lucky enough to watch it, you just might have your understanding expanded with regard to the erstwhile law breakers that constitute much of our illegal immigrant population. Like a 9 year old boy determined to reunite with his mother, it's a complex scenario that won't easily be solved.

One final note, we watched this Spanish language movie with our 11 year old granddaughter (the first time she's ever watched a subtitled film). Not only did enjoy it (and she's a very picky viewer), once it was over she was very visibly moved with the emotion of it. So rate this as excellent by both grandparent AND grandchild standards!
September 9, 2008

Expand your movie watching

This little movie is so heart warming, sad, happy that you get to view the tough life of a single mother separated from her young son through different set of emotional lens. Well done (as little indy movies done on the cheap go) real and authentic. I don't usually have the patience to sit through a whole sub-titled movie. But this one was not so "hurry up and read the caption" and simple enough to "get it". I really got into it from the start. The child actor is very good in this. Enjoy it. September 2, 2008

Wonderful film

This is a wonderful film and really gives insight into the plight of the illegal immigrant. I found it to be eye-opening, beautifully acted and deserving of all the awards it has won. August 23, 2008

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