Drama
United States of America
A Better Life is a 2011 drama film directed by Chris Weitz and starring Demián Bichir as Carlos Galindo, a Mexican gardener living in East Los Angeles. Carlos works hard every day to provide for his son Luis (played by José Julián), but he struggles to keep him away from the lure of gangs and immigration agents.
One day, Carlos decides to invest in a truck and tools to start his own gardening business, hoping to provide a better life for his family. However, his truck is stolen by a street gang, and Carlos and Luis embark on a dangerous journey across Los Angeles to recover it before it's too late.
Through their journey, Carlos and Luis experience the vast disparities between the wealthy and the poor in Los Angeles, as they work for wealthy landowners while struggling to avoid being caught by immigration agents. Carlos also faces the difficult decision of whether to risk his own safety and immigration status to provide a better life for his son.
A Better Life is a poignant and emotional film that tackles themes of immigration, family, and the American dream. Bichir's performance was highly praised and earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
