Under the Same Moon (2008)

Illegal immigrant Rosario (Kate del Castillo) works as a cleaning lady in L.A. to send money back to Mexico for her mother and her son Carlitos. Carlitos hangs out with the local Coyote Doña Carmen. An American couple (America Ferrera) offers to take babies across the border but Carmen dismisses them. When Carlitos' grandmother dies, he fears his uncle getting custody and calls up the American couple to smuggle him across the border to find his mother. He faces multiple challenges with only a payphone number his connection to his mother.The story is split in two following separately the mother and the child. The mother's story is capably told with the beautiful Kate del Castillo. The boy's story holds some of the most compelling situations although it does meander somewhat. The kid is fine. The turn to find his father is convenient at best and would be better not to be introduced. His friendship with Enrique is the best part. The duo is like a Chaplin and the kid. This is a fine melodrama with some good work. As a message movie about illegals in America, it may be good or bad depending on the audience.

Under the Same Moon (2007)This story is one that will feel too close to home to many viewers--immigrants of all kinds, and parents who have ever been separated from their kids. The emotional stakes get piled so high you know that it can't end in disaster (the audience would be angry), so you kind of wait to see how the inevitable gets worked out.What holds it completely together is the stellar acting of the lead boy, played by Adrian Alonso, with great support from his pretty but a bit restrained mother, played by Kate del Castillo. You can't help but feel for them, and the many hardships they encounter will move you right along with the events.Which is the only conspicuous problem with the movie--the hardships are endless and brutal and almost comically classic. I'm sure they're all true enough, and I'm sure there are even individuals who face all these things in one lifetime. But it all happens in a week as the days tick off one by one to the critical weekly phone call. It's too much, really, no matter how you cut it--unless you think of it as a kind of modern Grimm fairy tale. In those, terrible things happen to kids and yet there is a dramatic outcome you take in stride. The fact this is kind of knowingly over the top happens when our two leads come within feet of each other (in the sprawling city of Los Angeles) and don't know it. Could be, but it doesn't help any sense of realism.And yet it is filmed with an attention to small details, to making people reasonable (bad and good people both) and believable. That's eventually all backdrop to the tale, complete with wicked relatives, a knight in shining armor, and a couple of scofflaws who come to the rescue just in time.It'll make you cry, and you might get mad at being so manipulated. But I think it's worth it.

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 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.