Product Description

Studio: Laguna Productions Inc Release Date: 04/13/2004 Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Nr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52631 in DVD
• Brand: Laguna
• Released on: 2004-01-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Surround Sound, NTSC
• Original language: Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable soap opera
This tale of three Mexican cousins follows their adventures over five years after they cross the U.S. border into California. After taking refuge with their uncle in Los Angeles they settle into work as undocumented day laborers, waiting each morning at an appointed spot for employers to come by and recruit them for odd jobs.

At times some of the jobs become more permanent, but the men soon learn that nothing is guaranteed -- a foreman might try to cheat them out of their wages, or an entire business may close overnight. So, after a while each of the men tires of the exploitation and sets out to find his own way to a better life. For two of them the results are dubiously lucrative, as one becomes an enforcer for a local drug dealer and the other a "kept man" for a wealthy woman whose marriage has gone sour.

It is the third cousin's job at a West Hollywood art gallery that provides the most surprising elements of the story, as he falls in love with the male owner of the gallery and struggles to be open about his sexuality. Interestingly, it is his situation that ends up being the most stable and rewarding, as he is eventually able to move out of his uncle's house and obtain a Green Card.

While obviously a low budget production, this movie features excellent performances and despite some dark and dramatic turns concludes on a positive note. If in the end it plays a bit like soap opera, at least it is a very good one.

The film is shown full-screen and DVD extras are barebones (indexed scene selection and previews for other movies.)

Brilliant film with insight into day laborers' lives
I found this film to be miraculously realistic and a much-needed look into the lives of undocumented (i.e., illegal) workers from Latin America trying to survive in the United States. Three men arrive in the US and struggle to lead honorable lives, but find it much more difficult than they had imagined.

The film takes place over the course of a number of years, and it is quite a journey. I highly recommend it to everyone in the US. You will never again pass by a group of "day laborers" waiting to be picked up by a truck offering work without giving a bit more thought to what they are going through.

Beautiful movie, beautifully acted and put together. You will be so glad you watched this movie.

Beautiful Movie
I bought this movie blind without knowing anything about it. I was pleasantly surprise at how great it is. Bond between brothers through the different road they take is tested and the result is extremely heartfelt.
Cliched at times but wonderful in it's execution. Definitely recommended.