Under the Same Moon
Under the Same Moon
is a film that everyone will be talking about come next years award season.
Like most foreign language films, and especially
independent foreign language
films, this one will be passed over by many. But to miss it is to miss
one of the most beautifully told stories to come
from any language in a long
time. It is a love story that beats in the heart of us all. The love between
a parent and child. All of us have been at least
one of those if not both
so it is immediately relatable on the human level. It is pure magic when
a film can have you crying one moment and then
laughing hysterically the
next minute. Both emotions are prevalent in this film and combine for a
moving theater experience.
La Misma Luna (Under the
Same Moon) finds Rosario (Kate del Castillo) as a single mother working
in California while her 10 year old son Carlitos
(Adrian Alonso) remains
in Mexico with his grandmother. This arrangement has gone on for
several years and is very emotional for both parties. When
the grandmother passes away
young Carlitos heads off on his own to find his mother in the United States.
He must use wisdom and resources far beyond his years in order to complete
his journey. The mixture of humor and tension fuel this film from start
to finish. You want so much for this lovable
youngster to find his mom
that you are emotionally involved the entire time.
To make a film like this
even remotely decent there has to be a strong child in the lead role. I
have seen so many films fail miserably due to young
people who simply can not
act. Thankfully Adrian Alonso comes across like a seasoned actor in an
11 year old body. He is amazing on film. When he has to be tender or tough
or funny, it never comes across as rehearsed or stale. It is spot on perfect
every time. You forget that he is simply speaking lines from a script since
it is so personal and real. Likewise Katie del Castillo, who I am told
is like the Jennifer Anniston of Mexico, is also brilliant.
She expertly conveys the
struggle a mom would go through who is dealing with separation from her
child and the guilt and emotion that goes along with
that. There are other characters
sprinkled in along the way that bring both humor and Mexican culture to
the film rounding off a perfect ensemble cast.
Due to the plot of the film,
La Misma Luna revolves around the issue of illegal immigration.
But it does so without being political or agenda motivated. This is a story
of a mother and son that crosses all cultural and economic boundaries.
This one just so happens to be about a boy from Mexico. Though while not
intending, it does a grand job of showing the struggle and prejudices of
both border. You get a look at what both sides face in this ongoing issue.
It was interesting to see these played out in a film that was not just
about that which made the facts subtle and poignant.
La Misma Luna is rated
PG-13 for some mature thematic elements. I found nothing in this film that
would be offensive to anyone over the age of 11. I
think Calitos would be intriguing
to many preteen boys as he goes off on this adventure. Though the subtitles
and the theme of death and separation
may be a little adult, no
one knows their child better than you, so make your call. And please do
not let the foreign language deter you from seeing
this beautiful film. It
is an amazing achievement for the indie film world and a reminder of why
the cinema can be so enchanting. I give it 4 out of 5
un-air conditioned bus rides!
Matt Mungle (3/19/08)
Matt is a member of the North
Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and co-hosts a weekly radio feature,
The Mungles on Movies, with his wife Cindy.
For additional reviews,
interview clips and great DVD giveaways, visit the website www.mungleshow.com
Review copyright 2008 Mungleshow
Productions. Used by Permission.
| Director/Producer Patricia
Riggen and actress Kate del Castillo talk about Under the Same Moon.
Click
here to go behind the scenes and hear from the stars of the film!”
(5:49)
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