Under the Same Moon

Filed in archive Latin Movies on March 23, 2008

Last night I watched Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna in Spanish), with Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, and Adrián Alonso . It's the story of a little boy (Carlitos) who, at nine, crosses the border illegally in search of his mother (Rosario). The story moves along alternating between Rosario's life in Los Angeles and her little boy's life in Mexico and then his journey to get back to her.

I really liked this film, especially because given the political climate, it would've been so easy for it to be a very soap-boxy preachy interpretation of a very hot topic, but it wasn't. It was a story of a family.

Earlier today I read a few reviews, and most reactions seem extreme. Either people loved it and went on and on about what a big political statement it was, or they complained about a lack of realism (yes, you get the happy ending, and that isn't a spoiler... you pretty much know from the start that things will end well). I think it's just because the topic of illegal immigration is front and center in the new these days.

Truth be told, it was a sweet film . The little boy is only nine and manages to side-step danger every step of the way. The audience isn't shown harsh scenes of what happens to the thousands of children who don't manage the journey unscathed. Yes, it's not true to life. But then again, the story isn't about the exploitation of undocumented children. It's a story about a little boy who misses his mother and will do anything to be with her again. Had the boy not crossed a border, the critics would simply call this a tender family film.

It's not shockingly realistic and revolutionary. What it is is a beautiful love story. And yes, Kleenex come in handy for this one.