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A Better Life (2011) 7.1
Ratings:
7.1/10 from 9,466 users
Metascore: 64/100
Reviews: 78 user | 85 critic | 30 from Metacritic.com A gardener in East L.A. struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while trying to give his son the opportunities he never had. Director:Chris Weitz |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Demián Bichir | ... | ||
| Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo | ... |
Himself
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| Joaquín Cosio | ... |
Blasco Martinez
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| José Julián | ... | ||
| Nancy Lenehan | ... |
Mrs. Donnely
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| Gabriel Chavarria | ... |
Ramon
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| Bobby Soto | ... |
Facundo
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| Chelsea Rendon | ... |
Ruthie Valdez
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| Trampas Thompson | ... |
School Security Officer
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| Tim Griffin | ... |
Juvie Officer
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| Valorie Hubbard | ... |
School Secretary
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| Dolores Heredia | ... |
Anita
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| Isabella Rae Thomas | ... |
Linda
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| Carlos Linares | ... |
Santiago
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| Robert Peters | ... |
Truck Driver
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Carlos Galindo is a decent man, a Mexican single parent working as a gardener in California to raise Luis,his fourteen-year-old son,whom Carlos is frightened will drift into local gang culture. Carlos buys a truck for his work with money loaned by his sister but a shifty new employee steals it from him and,though Carlos and Luis track the thief down,he has sold the truck. Father and son bond as they reclaim the vehicle from the pound but Carlos attracts police attention,making his future in America uncertain when it is discovered that he is an illegal immigrant. Written by don @ minifie-1
Taglines:
Every father wants more for his sonGenres:
DramaMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for some violence, language and brief drug use | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
28 July 2011 (Thailand) See more »Also Known As:
The Gardener See more »Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USABox Office
Budget:
$10,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$62,087 (USA) (24 June 2011)Gross:
$1,754,319 (USA) (26 August 2011)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Director Chris Weitz liked to do all the dangerous scenes in the script before he asked his cast to perform them. A stunt double taught Weitz and Demián Bichir how to climb a palm tree, and although Weitz was first to successfully climb one, Bichir did go on to film all the scenes himself, without a stunt double. Weitz told the audience at a SAG Screening: "That is why in my films there are not many scenes that require stunt doubles". See more »Goofs
At 21:10, the size and shape of the bread that Santiago is giving to Carlos Galindo is different from different angles. See more »Quotes
Carlos Galindo: This country is a land of dreams. It can be a hard place, a cruel place. But it's where I work, and I dream of a better place for my son.See more »
I like how Chris Weitz kept the focus on the characters and avoided the usual politics of the subject matter. This movie kept the audience riveted to the screen without resorting to usual polemics found in similar subject films. Personally I think this movie is closer to "El Norte" than "The Bicycle Thief", maybe a mix of the two but still authentic. Superb performances by most of the cast including Demian Bichir as Carlos Galindo, newcomer Jose Julian as Luis Galindo, Joaquin Cosio as Blasco, Bobby Soto as Luis' friend. Richard Cabral, Jason Medwin and Tom Schanleys played very believable, three dimension roles. Eric Eason and Chris Weitz did a great job on balancing keeping it real and entertaining at the same time. Carlos, a Mexican gardener in the United States illegally doing all he can trying to single handed raise a son in a vulnerable age at a vulnerable time. If you are looking for a warm and heart felt movie without the overblown melodramas then this is a most see.