Rob Starzec This semester, I have had to sit through a bunch of not-so-great films in my global road movie class. The not-so-great ones have consisted of cheaply made documentaries and films that have conveyed the essence of a journey with little to no effect on the characters. With Under the Same Moon, we get a story about a clear journey of a young boy, Carlitos, trying desperately to cross the border into the U.S. and finding his mother in L.A.Some may find this unrealistic, but Carlitos is amazingly intelligent at the age of 9. He has a special way of connecting with adults and sometimes manipulating them in order to get what he wants. This is not to say there is a maniacal or evil motive behind what Carlitos wants from adults, but he is a natural at convincing others to help him, and he must be since he is limited due to his age.On the reverse side, we see his mother living in L.A. in order to make money to support little Carlitos with not one, but two jobs as a maid. She is constantly questioning what will help her son in the long run, which is heartbreaking since Carlitos sometimes thinks that his mother abandoned him. What adds to the mother's struggle is the fact that she is an "illegal," so she must also decide what puts her in a better position to support her only child.While the mother's story is more dramatic, Carlitos' journey is full of heart and many laughs, especially after he befriends a man named Enrique. Basically, Carlitos depends on this stranger, but Enrique is reluctant to help since the kid annoys him. It is a great love/hate relationship which has us hoping Enrique will come to his senses and do the right thing.I love how the film combines aspects of the melodrama with the political issue of immigration which is tied to desperation for work. There is little to say about the film in a negative manner except that it may seem cheesy at certain points. Also, if you're looking for a film with complexity you may want to look elsewhere since the plot for this film is simple and straightforward, but it is a fun and touching story.3.5/4.0

Dani Greenfield Under the Same Moon is a heart-wrenching story about a young boy trying to find his mother in America. He daringly crosses the border from Mexico, risking his life to finally be at peace in his mother's arms. It is a beautiful story of friendship and yearning filled with moments that will make you cry and moments that will make your heart grow ten times it size. The young boy, named Carlitos, plays the role of an abandoned child incredibly, leaving his home after his Grandmother passes away. He puts his life into the hands of two unskilled coyotes that just barely get him across the border. Carlitos meets many helpful people along the way, one who risks his own deportation so Carlitos can find his mother. Rosario, Carlitos's mother, played by Kate del Castillo, portrays her role with such emotion that you can't help but believe that this situation is real. She struggles to find work so she can make enough money to pay a lawyer to help her obtain a green card and move her son to California. The movie portrays, what I believe to be accurately, what it means to live in America as an illegal immigrant. There are scenes when workers are taken away to be deported, and you can't help but think about those who are living in fear every day of being sent back to Mexico. The movie did a great job of shedding light on the topic of illegal immigration evoking sympathy from the audience. It was an incredible movie that everyone should see. Make sure to bring a box of tissues!

rijulkochar24 Under The Same Moon is a thoughtful and heartwarming story which describes the struggles of a young boy, Carlito , in his quest to cross the Mexican American border and find his mother. The movie highlights the struggles of crossing the border and the turmoil that illegal immigrants face while living in the United States. In some of the scenes the director explores how hard it is for an illegal immigrant to hold a steady job and then find a new job. Additionally, there are examples of how some illegal immigrants go through the process of becoming legal residents through marriage. The movie was effective in depicting the plight of illegal immigrants while simultaneously highlighting the concerns over treatment in regards to illegal immigrants. The border patrol and authorities were highly abusive in the movie towards illegal immigrants which is not necessarily an appropriate response for treating illegals. However presenting such a view of illegal immigrants is important for viewers to truly understand the dangers that illegal immigrants face. Luckily for viewers the movie had a positive outcome where Carlito was reunited with his mother. While such a ending is important for hope, the movie fails to acknowledge all the scenarios where such a positive outcome does not work out. In many cases those who successfully cross the border are caught and then deported. Overall, the movie was at 7.0 out of 10. The story was inspirational and enlightening however was not completely informative in regards to illegal immigration.

Adam Lopez Giving an inside view on the perpetual topic of illegal immigration, Under the Same Moon follows a young boy as he travels across the border from Mexico to the United States in search of his mother and, perhaps, happiness. The movie has a touching story that gives a dash of love and family while also displaying the hardships that many illegal immigrants face when they come to America. Being balanced in that respect, the movie can be a family film with parents being able to relate to several characters in the movie and children being able to find a hero in the courageous boy Carlitos. With that being said, at times the movie can seem extremely far-fetched because, after all, a nine year old boy is travelling hundreds of miles with nothing but a backpack on his back and bit of tattered English on his tongue. The viewer will undoubtedly think "yeah, right" or "how convenient" throughout the movie but the foundations of the movie, love and ambition, will trump all such thoughts. This movie is not a must-see but I do recommend it to any one who has emigrated from another country, who's family had to immigrate in generations past, or who lives in a culture that is not native to their home.