Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

A Better Life

  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
16K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
17,120
2,790
A Better Life (2011)
A gardener in East L.A. struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while traveling across town to perform landscaping work for the city's wealthy landowners.
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
50 Photos
DramaRomance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
16K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
17,120
2,790
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Chris Weitz
    • Writers
      • Eric Eason(screenplay)
      • Roger L. Simon(story)
    • Stars
      • Demián Bichir
      • José Julián
      • Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Chris Weitz
    • Writers
      • Eric Eason(screenplay)
      • Roger L. Simon(story)
    • Stars
      • Demián Bichir
      • José Julián
      • Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 93User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos1

    A Better Life
    Trailer 2:16
    A Better Life

    Photos50

    Chelsea Rendon and Bobby Soto in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir and José Julián in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir and José Julián in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir and José Julián in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir, Chris Weitz, and José Julián in A Better Life (2011)
    Demián Bichir and José Julián in A Better Life (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Demián Bichir
    Demián Bichir
    • Carlos Galindo
    • (as Demian Bichir)
    José Julián
    José Julián
    • Luis Galindo
    Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
    Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
    • Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
    Joaquín Cosio
    Joaquín Cosio
    • Blasco Martinez
    Nancy Lenehan
    Nancy Lenehan
    • Mrs. Donnelley
    Gabriel Chavarria
    Gabriel Chavarria
    • Ramon
    Bobby Soto
    Bobby Soto
    • Facundo
    Chelsea Rendon
    Chelsea Rendon
    • Ruthie Valdez
    Trampas Thompson
    Trampas Thompson
    • School Security Officer
    Tim Griffin
    Tim Griffin
    • Juvie Officer
    Valorie Hubbard
    Valorie Hubbard
    • School Secretary
    Dolores Heredia
    Dolores Heredia
    • Anita
    Isabella Rae Thomas
    Isabella Rae Thomas
    • Linda
    Carlos Linares
    Carlos Linares
    • Santiago
    Robert Peters
    Robert Peters
    • Truck Driver
    Richard Cabral
    Richard Cabral
    • Marcelo Valdez
    Bella Balajadia
    • Bella
    • (as Isabella Balajadia)
    Giselle Nieto
    • Gigi
    • Director
      • Chris Weitz
    • Writers
      • Eric Eason(screenplay)
      • Roger L. Simon(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Rabbit Hole
    7.0
    Rabbit Hole
    Arráncame la vida
    7.4
    Arráncame la vida
    The Messenger
    7.1
    The Messenger
    The Young World
    Innocent Voices
    7.8
    Innocent Voices
    Spanish Dracula
    A Better Life
    6.6
    A Better Life
    The Cooler
    6.9
    The Cooler
    Biutiful
    7.4
    Biutiful
    The Kids Are All Right
    7.0
    The Kids Are All Right
    You Can Count on Me
    7.5
    You Can Count on Me
    In the Valley of Elah
    7.2
    In the Valley of Elah

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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".
    • Goofs
      At 21:10, the size and shape of the bread that Santiago is giving to Carlos Galindo is different from different angles.
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.23 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Rolex
      Written by Thaka Dillo and Cx Kidtronik (as Christopher Davis)
      Performed by Cx Kidtronik (as CX Kidtronik) and Tchaka Diallo
      Courtesy of Tchaka Diallo

    User reviews93

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Watch it for Demián Bichir's Masterful Performance!
    2 Days back, Demián Bichir earned himself an Oscar-Nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for 'A Better Life'. And that was it, I saw 'A Better Life' exactly 24-hours later since his nomination was announced.

    Demián Bichir delivers a Masterful Performance. A performance, that is so well-done, it come across as an astonishing embodiment. He elevates this film!

    'A Better Life' Synopsis: 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.

    'A Better Life', even as a film, is worth-seeing, thanks to the the moving screenplay, written by Eric Eason. The relationship between the Father & his Son, is wonderfully handled & written. Chris Weitz Directs this Human-Drama, with bravery. Cinematography is eye-filling. Editing & Art Design, are decent.

    On the whole, 'A Better Life' is well-made, but it's Demián Bichir's embodiment, that makes this film unmissable.
    helpful•12
    0
    • namashi_1
    • Jan 26, 2012

    FAQ1

    • What film has 'A Better Life' been compared to?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 28, 2011 (Thailand)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Gardener
    • Filming locations
      • Wattles Mansion - 1824 N. Curson Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Lime Orchard Productions
      • Witt/Thomas Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,759,252
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $62,087
      • Jun 26, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,863,506
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    A Better Life (2011)
    Top Gap
    By what name was A Better Life (2011) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.