“A Better Life,” directed by Chris Weitz and starring best actor nominee Demián Bichir, is one of the lesser known films on our “Not Best Picture Nominees” roster, but it’s a memorable one.
It’s the story of Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir). He’s a father, a hard worker, and an illegal alien living in East L.A. He works as a gardener and dreams of creating a better life for his 14-year-old son Luis (José Julián).
As a gardener, Carlos sees on a daily basis all that he wants for his son and himself. The contrast of his world and the one he works in is heartbreaking.
While his father works hard to improve their lot, Luis is caught in a high school world of gangs and violence.
When Carlos gets a lucky break (thanks to the generosity of his sister) it looks like things might improve for them. But a turn of events quickly sends things spiraling out of control. Carlos’ truck is stolen, a crime he can’t report due to his lack of citizenship, so he and Luis set out to reclaim their good fortune.
An important, yet ultimately inconsequential side note: the bulk of this film is in Spanish with no subtitles. I took one semester of Spanish and five years of French. I am telling you, it will not matter.
I admit at first it was a bit jarring, but when you can’t understand what words they’re saying, you start listening in a different way. You notice gestures, expressions, situations and a few key phrases you remember from eighth grade Spanish.
Yes, I still felt a little outside of the loop at moments, but given the situation of the characters, it seemed appropriate and made me appreciate the film more.
Demián Bichir as Carlos is stoic. Even in the worst moments he is fair, kind and honest, and you can see it in his face. He is caught in situations in which he has no power, yet he never looks defeated. He and José Julián as father and son are beyond touching. They fight, they shout, but they care.
There is of course an underlying political message. It’s there but it’s never pushed. You are aware of his situation and aware of the possible ramifications but it’s not directly discussed.
It adds humanity to what has become a purely political discussion, and it benefits the story greatly. It is infuriating, but also compelling and ultimately inspiring.
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