'A Better Life'

'A Better Life'  (PG-13)  (3 stars)

Writer: Eric Eason
Director: Chris Weitz
Starring: Damian Bechir, Jose Julian

"A Better Life" is a simply touching story of a father and son out of touch who through a series of events become closer to each other. There are no surprises in this movie and you know where it is going but the great, natural acting and powerful, heartbreaking ending make it work. It is also a much better look at our economy and the lower middle class who struggle in it then the phony and artificial "Larry Crowne".  It also takes time to comment on our border situation and immigration but the movie never preaches.

"A Better Life" tells the story of father and son Carlos and Luis Galindo who live in a very small house in California. Luis's mother has passed away so it is now just him and his father and Luis goes to school when he wants to. Carlos tries to make ends meet working as a laborer for a friend and when the friend goes back to Mexico Carlos borrows money from his sister to buy his friend's truck. Then Carlos can get his own labor help and travel to jobs in his truck. Carlos worries that Luis is getting involved with gangs and that he is skipping too much school. Carlos picks a laborer from a group on the street and when doing a job the man steals his truck.

Carlos goes back home drunk and despondent and Luis learns of his father's fate and becomes concerned. Luis goes with Carlos to find the truck and the man who stole it. Carlos is striving to achieve the American Dream starting his own business with his own tools and truck. What becomes more important later is that Carlos and Luis will become closer as father and son. What happens on Carlos and Luis's journey is predictable in spots but the movie is always intriguing. The acting is also special especially by Damian Bechir as Carlos. It is a very quiet, subtle and solid performance and it is beautifully played by Bechir.

The movie reminded me of an older, foreign classic from 1948 "The Bicycle Thief" by  Vittorio DeSica that I studied in film class. If you have not seen that classic you should check it out, it is something special. That movie dealt with a father and son looking for the man who stole the father's bike. "A Better Life" is similiar in storyline but that didn't bother me because I loved the performances, the realistic feel of the story and the beauty of the relationship between father and son. There is a beautiful, touching and powerful scene at the end where Carlos explains what he wants for his son in his future. It is expertly played by Bechir and it will probably make everyone in the audience cry. "A Better  Life" is a   touching, very well acted and directed movie that makes us feel something.