Reviews

La Misma Luna | Under the Same Moon

Irresistibly good

By PEG ALOI | April 2, 2008

3.5 Stars

LA MISMA LUNA: Corny and . . . downright delightful.

This uplifting debut from Patricia Riggen tells the story of young single mother Rosario (Kate del Castillo) and nine-year-old son Carlitos (the sensational Adrian Alonso). A hard-working undocumented housekeeper in LA, Rosario has sent money home for four years, resisting the advances of good-hearted Paco (Gabriel Porras) to focus on her hopeless situation. She calls Carlitos weekly, torn by his constant pleas to see her. When his grandmother dies, plucky Carlitos takes the money he’s saved and crosses the border, helped by two US-born students. Thinking a simple bus ride will reunite him with Rosario, Carlitos is met with obstacles and unsavory characters including a gruff migrant worker (Eugenio Derbez) trying to stay one step ahead of the INS. Funny, suspenseful, moving, occasionally corny, often implausible, and downright delightful, the film has won over festival audiences. Call me a cornball, but won me over too. English + Spanish | 106 minutes | Kendall Square

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