A Better Life Movie Review (2011)
A heart-wrenching look at one man’s battle to provide a life for his son while navigating his illegal immigration status, A Better Life is a hard hitter.
Immigration is such a hot-button topic in the United States right now that getting down to an individual family or community is often the best way to try to view it with clear eyes.
A Better Life is the story of Carlos, an illegal immigrant who spends his days working for a landscaper who suddenly announces that he is leaving to go back to Mexico. Carlos can either buy his truck and all of his supplies to continue with his business or go work for someone else, along with all of the other men trying to get day labor.
In trying to keep his son, José, away from local gangs and into better circumstances, Carlos borrows a large sum of money to buy the truck and begin the possibility of improving their chances. When something awful happens to change things again, he has to decide what to do when he sees his future crashing down around him.
This is a very difficult watch. From the first few minutes of the movie, your heart feels for Carlos and the everyday struggles he has. He has done what so many people before him have done and gone down a path to what seems like a better life. Work hard, keep your head down, help to support your children and extended family, wash, rinse, repeat until you can’t anymore. The idea of becoming “something” or “someone” is reserved for his son – not for him.
Demián Bichir (from Weeds and The Hateful Eight) plays Carlos and he is incredible. Without saying a word, he breaks your heart. He carries his struggles in his shoulders and upper body, but tries desperately to be strong until he just can’t anymore.
It’s a performance that feels as real for you as it may have for him because this didn’t feel like a performance. It felt like life. No wonder he got an Academy Award nomination for this role. And after researching who actually won – good for Jean Dujardin for taking home the statue for The Artist in 2012, but Bichir was better. I’m just saying.
A Better Life is a small movie about a small family with what many may see as small problems. I I see immigration through a different lens and I’m more than impressed with this film for putting a very focused light on the many complications that go into it.
Runtime: 98 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG-13
Languages Spoken In The Film: English and Spanish with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes, it’s powerful
Did I Cry? Yep
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
