A Better Life

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A Better Life

PG-13,

2011,

1h 38m,

Drama

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Watchlist

85%

103 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

103 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir), a Mexican undocumented immigrant and veteran Los Angeles day laborer, has trouble connecting with his son, Luis (José Julián), whose gang-affiliated girlfriend is tempting him to ignore his father's example of clean living. Carlos buys a truck to begin working as a self-employed man and earn more money, but when it is stolen, his hopes for a more affluent life are dashed. Unable to turn to the police for help, father and son embark on a quest to find the vehicle.

Critics Consensus

Powered by a terrific performance from Demián Bichir, A Better Life is an immigrant story told with simplicity and an ample amount of heart.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Jul 29, 2011

3/5

It speaks well enough about the fate of immigrants everywhere, especially those who want to work hard but end up being exploited.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

Jul 28, 2011

3/5

Bichir carries it all with a measured performance of considerable emotion as the dad, clenched by so many years holding his breath, waiting for the knock at the door.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Jul 28, 2011

Fresh, human, insightful, moving.

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

May 7, 2024

2/5

This is the sort of tepid tragedy, all sentiment and no cojones, that one could previously malign as a TV movie, as it attempts to say nothing new about the issues at hand.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 19, 2022

4/5

It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the lives of these two people even if we pretty much know how everything is going to end.

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Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

Mar 24, 2021

The film takes a great turn in a very simple scene that manages to wrench out both high hope and deep tension all within the context of yard work.

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Leia P

Apr 26, 2019

A good movie with a nice story to it, but not too deep concerning character buildup that could have been. Seems shallow.

Poe R

Dec 16, 2018

This is one of my favorite films ever. I've seen it many times and shared it with friends. To me, it captures a perspective on immigration that needs to be communicated to a wider audience, especially in today's society in 2018. Also, EXCELLENT performance by Demian Bichir and Jose Julian!

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Leia M

Sep 30, 2018

This well-performed father-son drama echoes the Italian classic "The Bicycle Thief" as a modern update with expected but unpredictable parallels in its own narrative turns when testing the bond within social influential impacts (honorable morality vs alternative irrationality), leading into a sad yet realistic and understanding conclusion after a finely acceptable path. (B) (Full review TBD)

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Anakin P

Apr 24, 2018

Weitz's most mature work, detailing the Sisyphean travails of someone purehearted and trusting in a country that could use a bit of both. Any complaints for this film belong in the realm of nitpicking. Desplat's score is genuinely bittersweet.

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Albus W

Nov 18, 2017

Amazing acting. Really makes you appreciate your parents and everyone who cares for you. Great story and very touching.

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Hermione R

Aug 31, 2017

Chris Weitz shares the shadow lives of Mexican illegal immigrants chasing the American dream with an emotionally resonant family drama about a father and a son coming of age when looking for their stolen means of livelihood.

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Chris Weitz

Director

Demián Bichir

Carlos Riquelme

José Julián

Luis Riquelme

Dolores Heredia

Anita

Joaquín Cosio

Blasco

Carlos Linares

Santiago

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Synopsis

Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir), a Mexican undocumented immigrant and veteran Los Angeles day laborer, has trouble connecting with his son, Luis (José Julián), whose gang-affiliated girlfriend is tempting him to ignore his father's example of clean living. Carlos buys a truck to begin working as a self-employed man and earn more money, but when it is stolen, his hopes for a more affluent life are dashed. Unable to turn to the police for help, father and son embark on a quest to find the vehicle.

Director: Chris Weitz
Producer: Jami Gertz, Christian McLaughlin, Stacey Lubliner, Paul Junger Witt, Chris Weitz
Screenwriter: Eric Eason, Roger L. Simon
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Summit Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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