La Misma Luna
Under The Same Moon
In the movie, Under the Same Moon, the main character, Carlitos, illegally crosses the United State/ Mexican border to be reunited with his mother. The story is one of several cultural plots that many illegal, as well as legal immigrants face today.
Carlitos’ mother, Rosario, leaves him behind in Mexico, to find a better life for herself and later, Carlitos, in the United States. She leaves him with her mother, in Mexico, and illegally crosses the border. The film covers several characters, and their adjustments living in a country that hasn’t fully accepted the rights of illegal immigrants. During one scene in particular, Carlito is saved from a terrible situation, by a women named Reina. Reina takes Carlito to her house, where she provides board from several working, illegal immigrants.
I’m sure the decision to leave her son behind, in order to provide for a better life for him, was extremely difficult. To most cultures, family and religion are the most important aspects of life; it’s all that a person has in this world. This is especially true in areas such as Mexico. Rosario makes the dangerous trip across the Rio Grande River, and into Texas, all for the future of her family. When Rosario discovers that Carlito has run away to find her, she is obviously torn on what to do next. She decides to board a bus to go back to Mexico, only to get off the bus, ultimately finding her son in the place she’s described for years. There are also scenes where she looks at pictures, and up at the same moon that Carlito is also looking at. This moon is symbolic, as it represents, though they are far apart, they can find comfort knowing that the moon is still high in the sky.
Carlito faced many problems living in Mexico, away from his mother. He had the pressures of his Aunt and Uncle, from his father that he’d never seen. They wanted to take him, no doubt only because of the money that his mother sent home every month. Not having either parent in his life, was a tough issue for a nine year old boy to handle.
Rosario faced a couple of different problems. She struggle with not having her son, as well as not fully being accepted by the citizens and culture of the United States. She loses her job as a home keeper, working for a lady who clearly exploits the fact that Rosario is an illegal immigrant.
Mothers in the United States do make similar choices, like the one Rosario did. Many mothers make daily sacrifices for the well being of their children. Going without the time and possessions they could have, if they were not putting their children first. If the United States had an overall condition and financial state that Mexico has, and if Canada offered the same opportunity that the US does, yes, we would see similar plights. Most of us are extremely fortunate to have the upbringing and optimistic futures that we experience here. This is a reminder, that not everyone has the chances that we do.
Chris Pappas
No comments:
Post a Comment