The Better Life
“A Better Life” is the simple story of a humble, compassionate man trying to go unnoticed evading deportation while providing for his son. Carlos Galindo (Demian Bichir) works hard as a Los Angeles gardener not knowing where his next job may come from. He sleeps on his couch and goes about his days quietly as he strives to give his son the opportunities he has never had. Bichir’s performance leaves the audience holding their breath hoping he’ll catch a break, hoping he’ll have a chance to turn things around, just hoping. The heartbreaking emotion he portrays is so convincing that it creates an empathy that makes it a hard movie to want to watch for a second time.
Meanwhile, his son, Luis (Jose Julian) is being suspended from school, tempted into joining a gang and trying to straddle a line between hating his life and loving his father. The moments between father and son are what really drive this story. While the theme is the search for happiness and freedom, the film also strongly reflects the value of family. It also shows just how strong the human spirit can be as well as what people are capable of in times of desperation.
Carlos buys a truck with money borrowed from his sister to be able to work on his own and build a business to move to a better place. Although he runs the risk of not carrying a driver’s license, he takes that chance only to have his truck stolen. The movie follows the painful path of searching for the man who stole it. His son, at first reluctant, falls in line with his father and together they form a bond to seek out what belongs to them.
Julian’s acting takes some time to warm up to; the beginning feels like he’s still in rehearsal, but when his character teams up with his father, his actions flow more naturally. The performances from the rest of the supporting cast, especially Luis’ friend (Bobby Soto) and most of the actors portraying the gang he wants to join, also try too hard to fit into their street-tough characters.
Director Chris Weitz does an excellent job at capturing the thoughts of Carlos by simply filming a quiet scene as he’s riding through different neighborhoods with different ethnic groups . We see through Carlos’ eyes the lives of others while concurrently seeing the problems he currently faces. He is a strong character, a likable one whose integrity and honesty unfortunately, at times make him seem weak.
“A Better Life” is heartfelt, endearing and sad. It depicts heroic efforts and selfless strength all for the sake of another. And after holding one’s breath wondering just how things will turn out- if Carlos and Luis will indeed see that better life- the emotional ride comes to an end and leaves the audience shedding a few tears and ultimately feeling deflated.