In the film, Under The Same Moon, Patricia Riggen tells the story of Carlitos, played by Adrian Alonso. A nine year-old Mexican boy who after the death of his grandmother, decides to cross the border to reunite with his mother who he hasn’t seen in four years. Rosario, Carlito’s mom is played by Kate del Castillo, emigrated to the United States in hopes to be able to provide a better future for her son. She works restlessly to save enough money bring her son to Los Angeles to live with her, but that dream seems to be far from the horizon and Carlitos can feel it. After his grandmother’s death, he is terrified that his oppressive uncle would obtain custody of him and decides to pay a couple of college students, who are in need of tuition money to cross him over to the United States (US). This is where his journey to find his mother in Los Angeles begins.
In Carlito’s journey to find his mom, he experiences the harsh realities of trying to survive in a foreign country. Although, his journey is roughly one week, he encounters the difficulties of a seasoned immigrant. Carlitos works in the fields picking fruit in the scourging heat surrounded by dangerous pesticides. He even has a run in with “La Migra,” who barges in the fields picking up every immigrant in sight. Luckily, Carlitos gets away but is left with no money forcing him to work odd jobs in a restaurant for very low wages. When arriving in Los Angeles, he has no money and has to settle for a night’s sleep in the park. Then we have Rosario, who works two housekeeping jobs to make ends meet for herself, her son and her mother on the other side of the border. Unable find a job after being fired without notice by her white employer, who mocks her by urging her to call police after she refuses to pay her for her last week’s work, she becomes desperate to get to Carlitos. This situation brings her to contemplate the idea of marrying her friend to change her legal Status. Despite having to endure such hardships, Carlitos and Rosario overcome adversity without losing their immigrant spirit.
In the middle of the 2016 presidential election, with a republican candidate who has ascended in the poles due to the anti-immigration policies he is pushing, I can’t help to think that the 2007 film Under the Same Moon came out in the wrong year. Immigration has been the central issue of this election. The American people want to know where the next potential President of the United States stands on this issue. Although Mexicans have been crossing the border for decades and in some instances recruited by the US for work. For example, the “Traqueros” who were Mexicans who were brought over to the US and trained to work at the railroads in the late 1800 to early 1900. This program was sponsored by US railroad companies but for some reason Mexican immigrants have just become a threat to our nation in recent years.
In the midst of all the fear mongering by the Trump campaign, by taking a few hours to watch this film it can change the negative perspective that many hold regarding undocumented immigrants. In The article The Boarder Crossed Us, Ingle describes the Latino Narrative Threat as “A Foucauldian discourse based on knowledge and power and the fear that occurs when one feel threatened by the “other”.” Trump is utilizing the Latino Threat Narrative to instill fear into the American people who are not familiar with the struggles immigrant workers face. This film depicts the hardships that undocumented families have to go through in order to escape poverty and violence in their native country and move to the US in search of a better life. In addition, the film touches on issues such as, family separation, low wages, job scarcity, civil rights violations, marriage fraud, and living in fear of Immigration and Naturalization Service.
In conclusion, contrary to the popular believe that immigrants come to the US to leach off our welfare system and take our jobs, Under The Same Moon shows us the opposite. It depicts the wearying struggle immigrant families face as soon as they cross the border. Carlitos and Rosario are not the stereotypical lazy Mexican; they are not afraid to work, often times working long hours for low pay. They also have a high level of morality. Rosario exhibits her morality by not going through with marrying her friend in order to change her immigration status. These characters have every good quality a US citizen should hold to make this country great again.
Ingle, Zachary “The Border Crossed Us”
This sounds like an interesting movie. The scene you described where her white employer fires her and refuses to pay her for her last week’s work and then he mocks her after she threatens to call the police is so sad. I bet that happens a lot in real life. The employer knows that she won’t go to the police because then she will risk being deported. There is nothing she can do against him but to leave and miss out on that pay. Do you think that is why sometimes employers hire undocumented immigrants? I would like to hope that that is never the reason. There are a lot of shady business owners and I wouldn’t put it past them to do something like that. To hire immigrants and feel that they can do whatever they want to them and that they will just take it because they need the job and that they feel that they might have no one to turn to for help.
I agree I think everyone needs to see this movie and maybe it will give them a different insight into immigrants. Now a days TV and movies are saturated with movies and shows that do sometimes paint immigrants in a bad light. Especially Donald Trump and the stuff he has been saying lately. He makes it sound like all Mexicans are rapists and murderers. Maybe we need to have more of these types of movies made. Movies that depict Mexicans and other immigrants in a good light. So everyone can see that they are just trying to better their lives by coming here. They aren’t coming here to cause chaos and violence. They aren’t like Machete going around killing people. They are just hard workers.
Enjoyed your review and I feel as you do, maybe if people watched some of the films that we have viewed alone or as a class, maybe they’d understand what these immigrants have gone through, to have a better life for themselves and their children. Most are not here for a free ride, they are people who are trying to survive, by working hard and are contributing to this country by paying their taxes and just want the opportunities to work a descent job and to live a better life. They came here to get away from the country they were born in to escape the poverty, political clashes or etc.
Its crazy that you mentioned the 20016 elections it really seems like most of the films we sceeened can relate to present day. His story and journey is a very similar story to that of many Mexican illegals and Mexican Americans in today’s society
I recall going to the theatre to see this movie. I have never seen it again because it made me cry a lot. Under the same moon is a great story not only about the love between a mother and son but more so about the struggles faced by immigrants who come to this country in search of a better life for themselves but especially for their families. All too common is Rosario and Carlitos’ story amongst the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have come here. Vanesa I agree with you when you say that in light of the presidential elections, this movie came out a few years to early. Now more than ever, the realities, struggles and injustices of immigrants needs to be cast a spotlight on in efforts to create change for immigration reform.
When two of my favorite actors in a film, Kate Del Castillo, and Eugenio Derbez, I have to watch this film. This film illustrates the reality of many children whose parents leave them behind to work endlessly to earn as much money as possible for their children and loved ones to have a better future. This film is similar to the book and film Enrique’s Journey. This book and the film are about a boy who emigrates from Central America to Mexico and finally to the United States of America in search of his mother. This film and book illustrate the dangers of crossing the border such as death, rape, hunger, and robbery. I definitely recommend Enrique’s Journey, well -written and organized post. Have a good summer.
Hello Angie,
From the blog post and comments, I agree this film illustrates and describes the love between a mother and her children. Now that I am a mother I understand these sacrifices, but I cannot imagine leaving my children behind. I feel horrible when I have to do homework, and I am unable to spend time with them. The film can become an educational tool to those who feel immigrants want to leave their life and loved ones behind to work in the United States of America. Immigrants in the United States of America work jobs that no one wants to do. Have a good weekend.
This film sounds very interesting. I’ve actually never heard of it. It sounds very powerful in showing what Mexican immigrants, or any immigrant for that matter go through. It has to be so difficult trying to assimilate in another country where you don’t speak the language, have no money, and know no one. I can’t imagine what they go through. You are right in that Trump is putting emphasis on the stereotypes and sadly those people who know nothing more think that’s all there is to immigrants. It’s great that a film like this can show a different side to immigrants and the reasons that many come to the U.S. It’s not to steal our jobs and cause trouble. Many are escaping the terrible conditions of their countries and trying to live the American dream just like the EuroAmericans were seeking when they first arrived as immigrants. I enjoyed your post and it made me want to see this movie. Good job!