Review of A Better Life (2011) by Jeff L — 18 Feb 2012

It follows the structure of 'The Bicycle Thief', and it revels in the situation of poor HIspanics permeating white America. The illegals are the cornerstore on the Americane economy, just like migrants are the cornerstone of the Malaysian economy.

But this flick dables in the relationship between the Mexican-at- heart father and the Americanised son. There's a language barrier between them and the father is at his wits' end in wanting to get close to his son.

It takes a crime for the duo to become one. The father's act of mercy, knowing that the thief was as desperate as him, is something unusual to see in movies. This is certainly no 'El Norte', which I saw for the first time in a 1992 politicial science class in the US, but it does give you a hint of the hardship people have to undergo every day.