palabras BIANCA I LAUREANO

Under The Same Moon is the latest Latina-led film release by Fox Searchlight Pictures, directed by Patricia Riggen and written by Ligiah Villalobos. A story that focuses on family reunification among undocumented workers in the U.S., has made its way to the silver (commercial) screen.

We meet Rosario (Kate del Castillo, Bordertown), a Mexican mother living and working in California, and her 8 year-old son Carlitos (Adrian Alonso, The Legend of Zorro) who lives in Mexico with his ailing maternal grandmother. Faced with the death of his maternal grandmother, and the overwhelming desire to be with his mother, Carlitos decides to find his mother in California. Leaving Mexico with the money he has saved over 5 years and an address his mother leaves on letters to him, Carlitos begins his journey north.

Carlitos pays a virgin coyote, Marta (America Ferrera, Ugly Betty), to get him across the US-Mexico border, yet is unsuccessful. His desire to be reunited with his mother leads him to Enrique (Eugenio Derbez), an undocumented worker. As expected, the two become friends, and Enrique acts as a father-figure to Carlitos as they cross the U.S. border together.

I’d sum this film up in one word: Predictable. Although the America Ferrera cameo is great, the best part is newcomer Adrian Alonso, who has the face of a young Diego Luna (Y Tu Mamá También) and a stunning command of the screen. You won’t feel too guilty waiting to check this film out when it gets on DVD.