Though it appears to be about the travails of illegal immigrants, "Under the Same Moon" ("La Misma Luna") is a powerful and evocative account of the efforts undertaken to forge a perilous mother-and-child reunion. It is a moving tale of yearning, as well as unflagging courage and determination.
This often wrenchingly moving film -- about a 9-year-old boy searching for his mother across the U.S.-Mexico border -- exerts immediate, irresistible power, combining an affecting story, indelible characters, urgent topical relevance and superbly calibrated sentimentality.
Thanks to the uncommonly shrewd judgment of screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos and director Patricia Riggen, both newcomers, "Under the Same Moon" never feels like rank exploitation, even as it steadily aims for the emotional jugular.
"Under the Same Moon" approaches the controversial and fraught issue from a compelling emotional angle, one that hasn't been covered in recent films. It raises a specific and probing question: Is Carlitos better off living in poverty, with his loving mother at home to care for him, or separated from her but in greater comfort with more possibilities for a better future?
This straightforward story of a boy and his mother wisely avoids oversimplification of a complex social question. It is poignant, even unabashedly sentimental, without being overwrought or sugary sweet.
If "Under the Same Moon" dramatizes a serious, even potentially tragic story, the tone never succumbs to unremitting grimness. Instead, the filmmakers regularly leaven their story with little unexpected grace notes of humor and tender irony.
"Under the Same Moon" is a heartfelt story of unquenchable hope, with the plight of illegal immigrants serving as an intriguing and timely backdrop.In Spanish with English subtitles, it is rated PG-13for mature thematic elements, and has a running time of 106 minutes.
''UNDER THE SAME MOON'' premieres at ...
Date and Time
Saturday Aug 2, 2008
August 2, 4, and 5 at 7pm
August 3 at 2pm
Location
Smith Opera House82 Seneca StGeneva, NY
Fees/Admission
$5 general admission$3 for students and senior citizens
Website
Contact Information
315-781-LIVE (5483) or toll-free 866-355-LIVE (5483)
