Missing his mother desperately after being separated for four years, 9-year-old Carlitos embarks on a journey to cross the Mexican border and find her in Los Angeles, where she's working illegally as a housekeeper to make a better life for him.
Although this sentimental-–but surprisingly powerful--Spanish-language film deals with the plight of a young boy, the movie will only appeal to children who are older and have the patience to read the subtitles. Carlitos is strong and charismatic, and he makes the issue of illegal immigrants personal, putting a human face on a subject tweens have only heard about in TV news debates. He proves that anything is possible and that nothing can-–or should--come between a child and his mother.
This movie is intended for older children.
This movie is intended for older children.
This movie is intended for older children.
Younger kids in this age group may find it difficult to keep up with the subtitles, but those who make the effort will be glad they did. Tweens will be shocked to see the way a culture of people try to live invisibly--forced to remain silent while others take advantage of them--driven solely by the determination to improve their lives. The sight of Carlitos having to hide inside the seat of a car and fight off human predators just to see his mother may give kids a new appreciation for the freedoms they take for granted and may open their eyes to the way others live. They'll probably gain a newfound respect for hardworking people--citizens or non-citizens alike--who clean houses, work in the fields and wash dishes in restaurants, realizing they're just trying to take care of their families.
