Under the Same Moon (2008)

O Masterpiece
O Excellent
X Good
O OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / May 17, 2008

“Under the Same Moon” is a Mexican film about the urgent love between a son and his mother. Though the film is good, there are times it wanders into melodrama. We don’t mind too much, however, because we’re so fond of its characters.

Four years ago Rosario Reyes (Kate del Castillo) left Mexico, illegally crossed the border into the United States, and has been working multiple jobs ever since to provide “a better life” for her son, “Carlitos” (Adrian Alonso). The now nine-year-old boy remains in Mexico with his ailing grandmother, his sole guardian. The father abandoned the little family years ago.

Carlitos (or little Carlos) longs for his mother. Their Sunday phone calls are tearful. When Carlitos’ grandmother dies, he sets off for the United States, attempting the perilous journey that includes a border crossing near El Paso and making his way to Los Angeles to somehow find his mother.

“Under the Same Moon,” which is primarily in Spanish and subtitled in English, tells the other side of the story. The film gives us a sympathetic look at the plight of illegal immigrants. Perspective varies with anybody’s eyes. Lou Dobbs would no doubt consider illegal immigrants like Rosario and Carlitos problematic. But “Under the Same Moon” has different villains, namely cops, border patrol guards, and rich, white people.

The film has two huge oversights that cannot be overlooked. Though we’re given a story meant to evoke our empathy for the mother and son, the surrounding collateral damage of all the people their illegal immigration effects is too significant. The movie points out that being an illegal immigrant isn’t easy for those who cross over, but it also unintentionally shows us the strain it puts on others. In short, if “Under the Same Moon” means to be pro-illegal immigration (and I’m not sure it does), that backfires.

The other oversight is an unforgivable filmmaker’s blunder. It is obvious what will eventually happen in the end. It is not a spoiler to discuss that the mother and son are reunited. But their embrace, which is the pay-off we long to see, is shown to us halfway through the movie in a dreamlike fantasy. Then, when the two finally get within each other’s sight, the film never shows us their actual embrace. Instead, the final shot is a nice echo back to a road sign shown earlier in the movie, that warns drivers of illegal immigrants crossing the road. While symbolism is nice, closure is better.

Directed by Patricia Riggen
Adrian Alonso / Kate del Castillo / Eugenio Derbez
Drama 106 min.
MPAA: PG-13 (for some mature thematic elements)

U.S. Release Date: March 19, 2008
Copyright 2008: 281