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Undocumented immigrants are people. At first glance this feels like a statement that needs no explanation, but Director Chris Weitz’s film “A Better Life,” which premiered last night for a full crowd at the historical Tower Theater on Calle Ochoa for the Miami International Film Festival, captured imaginations by providing a poignant portrayal of the struggles faced by undocumented workers in the United States.
This untold story is a sensitive and heartening tale of the life of an exhausted single father, Carlos Galindo (who is played excellently by actor Demean Bichir) who works as a landscaper to support his rebellious teenage son Luis Galindo (Jose Julian). The dilapidated, sea of crumbling buildings that surrounds their East Los Angeles home is filled with drugs and gangs, which puts further strain on the father son relationship and forces the son to decide between a life of gangs or a more positive path.
With the hope of improving his son’s life, Carlos starts a new business by buying his ex-boss’ landscaping truck. Unfortunately, that investment backfires. After hiring a man who offered him bread in the past, Carlos’ truck gets stolen while he is stranded on top of a palm tree. To get his truck back Carlos and his son drive to South Central L.A which lands him in prison and on a one way bus to Mexico.
What stood out to me the most was not just the story, but the power of Bichir’s character. The screenplay was written to subvert the stereotype of Mexican fathers and Bichir performs it exquisitely. After the final cut, I was very pleased to see Bichir get a standing ovation, which was well-deserved. To be frank, I must see this film again.
There’s a part in the film that makes me want to rewatch it again. The scene where Carlos prepares to scale a tall palm tree caught my attention. It was like watching an astronaut suit up to go explore space. Carlos’ careful yet purposeful movements as he climbs the tree remind me of the meticulous actions astronauts take to perform risky tasks onboard the space shuttle. Like an astronaut admiring earth, when he reached the top of the tree he was treated to a breathtaking view that represented the American dream.
Undocumented workers mean a lot. That’s what “A Better Life” portrays. They do the work that places them at great risk and in filthy conditions day in and day out. They are remarkable and incredibly powerful through simple acts they perform every day. “A Better Life” is not exclusively about having a better life. It is equally about the rest of us the documented appreciating the immense value that illegal immigrants have in perpetuating our American dream.
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