Bajo La Misma Luna

by Carol Martinez

Bajo La Misma Luna is an early 2000s film that stars some of the most popular Mexican actors in the world, including; Eugenio Derbez, Kate del Castillo, Carmen Salinas, and America Fererra, to name a few. Besides a star-studded cast, the film seems to be a recognizable and relatable tearjerker with themes of sacrifice, immigration, and family.

The chance at a better life hits close to home when it comes to many first-gen kids—watching on screen how sacrifice and opportunities are not mutually exclusive in this film. With the film industry's greatest-to-ever do it Latinos on the screen, this movie was has nothing short of talent.

Most people I know have cried for hours after watching this movie for the first time and still decided to re-watch it. In a gut-wrenching and all-too-well-familiar struggle story, the main characters are Carlitos, a nine-year-old boy played by Adrian Alonso Barona, who decides to take a journey across the border to be with his mother, Rosario, played by Kate Del Castillo, who is living in Los Angeles in order to make a living and earn enough money to bring her son to the U.S. Four years apart, Carlitos is growing impatient with his mother and continues to ask her on their weekly calls when he is going to join her. After his grandmother’s death, his desire to be reunified with his mother drives him to make a choice to leave Mexico and find her himself. In this journey, he befriends a man named Enrique, played by Eugenio Derbez.

The film opens up with Carlitos as he makes his way to a payphone to wait for his mother’s weekly call. It is Carlito's ninth birthday and his mother wishes him a “Happy Birthday” all the way from Los Angeles. He is eager to join her and reminds her that she always makes the same promises to which she replies with the realities that many people experience when it comes to trying to attain their “papers”, or rather their path to citizenship and residency in the United States. Carlitos asks his mom to describe where she is and he envisions himself in the exact spot she is in, foreshadowing that Carlitos is going to try and make his way to the exact location where the payphone is, to be reunited with his mother.

I recognize the backdrop of this payphone instantly, it is my hometown of Boyle Heights, an eastside Los Angeles neighborhood. I think the backdrop setting for this movie was so intentional and even more so, it was believable. The realities of this movie are also of the population that lives in this LA neighborhood.

Throughout the film, the audience sees some examples of the realities that immigrants often face when they try to make a living in this country. In the film, there is a scene where Rosario is let go by her employer who she cleans for so she asks for her pay for the last couple of days she was working, the woman refuses to pay her despite owing Rosario for her work. When Rosario confronts her the woman then says, “What are you going to do?

Call the police? Here. I just remembered you’re an illegal arent you? Not a good idea.” This abusive power dynamic happens all the time for immigrants in the workplace, if it is not a threat to call immigration, it is the unfair and unjust treatment of workers so they feel powerless.

The film also touches on legislation that would affect the lives of immigrants in the United States. In a scene where Rosario is taking the bus with her friend to work, the radio is playing and its two men on a morning talk show discussing how the governor at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would make it easier for immigrants to live in the U.S. The film sheds light on the reality of the reality of anti-immigrant legislation as Governor Schwarzenegger did indeed veto a bill back in 2004 that would allow immigrants to attain driver’s licenses.

Family and sacrifice are a constant theme in this film, showing just how far people are willing to go to ensure their families will have a better life. In Rosario’s case, she made her way to the U.S. to provide for her son. She sacrificed being with her child for the last four years in order to earn money for his livelihood but also earn money to hire a lawyer for her case. The film touches on scenes where Rosario addresses the fact that she had been scammed by previous “lawyers” and had to start saving all over again. Rosario’s friend sees her struggle and encourages her to get close to the security guard, Paco, who also lives in their neighborhood and is seen on their way to work every day. Paco has a crush on Rosario but her main focus is going to work as she wants to be reunited with Carlitos as soon as she can, even if she knows it will take a while to earn enough money. One night Paco offers to drive Rosario home and he offers to marry her as he has his “papers” in order, he tells her that it could expedite bringing her son to the U.S. Rosario is visibly emotional and decides to leave the car. Here, the audience understands that while Rosario is deeply hurt by not being able to see her son, she was not going to marry a man she thinks of as a friend and has no romantic feelings for. Rosario’s sacrifices for her son go beyond working jobs with unjust employers, it is how she is willing to put her chance at happiness on the back burner in order to provide the best for her son.

— Bajo La Misma Luna hits close to home because of the intense and emotional realities portrayed within the film. Almost two decades after its release this movie still portrays the realities within multiple storylines of the constant fear of being caught in the pursuit of a better life. With the backdrop of opportunity taking place in the U.S. and, more so, the majority Latinx community that is Eastside Los Angeles, this film delivers precision, truth, and real-world experiences.