Reservoir Dogs, Clerks, Memento and 28 Days Later – these are just a few of the past selections from the Sundance Film Festival that went on to bigger and better things. Held every January in Utah, the event is largely considered the marquee American venue for bringing attention to independent cinema.
In 2008, one of the most publicized selections was career short film director Patricia Riggen’s (Family Portrait) feature debut, Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna). An emotional story about the value of family and friendship during one boy’s journey to be reunited with his mother, Under the Same Moon is an intriguing glance – on a human level – into the hotly debated illegal immigration issue.
The film focuses on Carlitos (Adrian Alonso, One Long Night), a 9-year-old boy being raised by his grandmother (Angelina Peláez, Man on Fire) in Mexico after his single mother, Rosario (Kate del Castillo, Trade), moves to Los Angeles to better provide for him. Four years have passed since he has seen his mother, with letters and a weekly phone call serving as their only communication.
Desperately wanting to join his mother, Carlitos starts working on the side so he can earn enough money to move to the United States. When his grandmother dies in her sleep, Carlitos decides he has waited long enough and pays two Americans (America Ferrera, Ugly Betty and Jesse Garcia, The Comebacks) to help him cross the border.
It is the relationship between Carlitos and his mother that serves as the film’s base, an interesting dynamic since the two are given little opportunity to share the screen together. The mother and son make the most of the few chances they are given to interact though, establishing an authentic connection during an adoring exchange on the phone and a dream-like sequence that actually puts the pair in the same room.
This is largely thanks to the 13-year-old Alonso, who turns in a breakthrough performance. His Carlitos is innocent and naive, but also carries a simple determination that charms the audience into rooting for him throughout his ambitious journey. Del Castillo holds up her end of the bargain, as well, giving a layered performance in which Rosario’s self-doubt is shrouded behind a mask of unflinching independence.
Along the way, circumstances partner Carlitos with Enrique (Eugenio Derbez, Pledge This!), a down-on-his-luck immigrant trying to make a living in the United States. Not the least bit pleased to have a 9-year-old child tagging along with him, Enrique is initially hostile toward Carlitos. But, as time goes by, feelings of affectionate responsibility begin to overtake him. Derbez makes sure not to overplay this transition, developing Enrique’s bond with the child without stepping outside of his character’s surly persona.
One of the obvious topics of discussion for Under the Same Moon will be the film’s political message. Writer Ligiah Villalobos’ (Go, Diego! Go!) screenplay does not try to be subtle in this regard – illegal immigrants are portrayed as victims of oppression whose hard work largely goes unappreciated. At one point, American history is simply summed up by a character as screwing over the Indians, the slaves and the Mexicans, and later, a cruel employer withholds Rosario’s paycheck because she knows the illegal immigrant can’t go to the authorities.
Regardless of the political side of the film, Under the Same Moon does ensure that its touching tale is not overwhelmed by exterior issues. For Fox Searchlight Pictures, the same studio that distributed Little Miss Sunshine and Juno, the character-driven movie marks yet another admirable discovery from independent film’s rich stock of stories.
tfloyd1@umd.edu
RATING: 3.5 STARS OUT OF 5
