A Better Life (Chris Weitz, 2011): USA
Reviewed by Germaine Sims. Viewed on DVD.
A Better Life, or at least a somewhat mediocre one. This theme is explored in Chris Weitz’ emotionally poignant drama about the Mexican immigrant experience in America. A Better Life tells the story of the undocumented worker in Los Angeles, CA and the struggle to navigate the travails of the American legal system. The narrative centers around a father and son relationship. Two generations, one moving toward and one fighting against the “opportunities,” that are laid out for America‘s invisible population.
Carlos, a single father, and illegal immigrant, struggles to support himself and his teenage son by making a living as a day laborer. While Carlos is out looking for work he is loosing his son to the gangs in their L.A. neighborhood. Life seems a little more promising when Carlos seizes the opportunity to buy his own tools and truck and open his own landscaping business. However, when Carlos looses the truck he and his son must embark on a journey to recover their livelihood and hold their family together.
Weitz does a good job of translating Carlos story into a narrative fitting for Hollywood audiences. The story has a certain familiarity to it. Probably because it is being widely quoted as a modern day Bicycle Thieves. However, more important than the narrative conventions, the film seems familiar because the issues it presents are real. The cultural divide between a foreign born father and his American born son, the pressures of enculturation, and the way one finds their purpose in America (by starting a business). These are a few of the issues presented in A Better Life that give the film a sense of realism.
If it all sounds too socially or politically dogmatic, don’t worry the story is simplistic and some of the performances borderline on being slightly corny. However, the shining star of A Better Life veteran actor, Demián Bichir, grounds the film by bringing a certain authenticity and dignity to Carlos’ story. Bichir’s performance coupled with the visual representation of a Los Angeles that is rarely depicted in the movies, makes this film well worth seeing.
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