A Better Life

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A Better Life

PG-13

Released Jun 24, 2011

1h 38m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

86%

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104 Reviews

79%

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10,000+ Ratings

Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir), a Mexican undocumented immigrant and veteran Los Angeles day laborer, has trouble connecting with his son, Luis (José Julián), whose gang-affiliated girlfriend is tempting him to ignore his father's example of clean living. Carlos buys a truck to begin working as a self-employed man and earn more money, but when it is stolen, his hopes for a more affluent life are dashed. Unable to turn to the police for help, father and son embark on a quest to find the vehicle.

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Critics Consensus

Powered by a terrific performance from Demián Bichir, A Better Life is an immigrant story told with simplicity and an ample amount of heart.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

It speaks well enough about the fate of immigrants everywhere, especially those who want to work hard but end up being exploited.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 29, 2011

Full Review

Cath Clarke

Guardian

Bichir carries it all with a measured performance of considerable emotion as the dad, clenched by so many years holding his breath, waiting for the knock at the door.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 28, 2011

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Fresh, human, insightful, moving.

Jul 28, 2011

Full Review

Michael Leader

Den of Geek

This is the sort of tepid tragedy, all sentiment and no cojones, that one could previously malign as a TV movie, as it attempts to say nothing new about the issues at hand.

Rated: 2/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the lives of these two people even if we pretty much know how everything is going to end.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

The film takes a great turn in a very simple scene that manages to wrench out both high hope and deep tension all within the context of yard work.

Mar 24, 2021

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John C

This movie is something else for me it made me tear I definitely loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I hope anyone who watches this can feel even a bit of sympathy for undocumented immigrants. They're simply seeking a better life—one that their own country, for various reasons, can't provide. No one deserves to have their family torn apart. It's heartbreaking to think about how many people, like Luis and me, live with the constant fear that our parents could be taken from us at any moment—even though they’re honest, hardworking PEOPLE.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

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Brenda-Sofia M

Great film that hit close to home, don't understand why it has a 68% rating.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/24

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Viri M

A movie that hits close to home. Great performances!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/23

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Debra B

Incredible movie. Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Una mejor vida es una pelicula sobre un hombre illegal y su hijo vivendo en California. El padre Carlos compra un camioneta de jardinero y da un hombre un trabajo y este hombre se roba la camioneta de Carlos. A mi me gusto esta pelicula por la trama. Tambien me gusto los personajes porque todos tenian un parte importante al historia. Tercero me gusto los actores porque hicieron un buen trabajo en demuestrar los personajes. Cuando Carlos y su hijo Luis encontraron el hombre que robo el camioneta empieza a pegarlo y dice que vendio el camioneta. Carlos y Luis van robarlo en regreso del vendor y son parado por la policia y Carlos no tiene su licencia ni ciudadanía. Carlos es encarcelado y deportado a Mexico y eso es el fin del pelicula. A mi no me gusto el fin porque no tenia un terminación definitiva.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Chris Weitz

Director

Demián Bichir

Carlos Riquelme

José Julián

Luis Riquelme

Dolores Heredia

Anita

Joaquín Cosio

Blasco

Carlos Linares

Santiago

A Better Life: Official Clip - Searching for Santiago

2:30

A Better Life: Official Clip - A Reason to Live

3:37

A Better Life: Official Clip - Charreada

2:26

A Better Life: Official Clip - License, Registration, and Prison

3:37

A Better Life: Official Clip - Grand Theft Truck

2:55

A Better Life: Official Clip - Taking it Back

2:23

A Better Life: Official Clip - Why Did You Have Me?

2:16

A Better Life: Official Clip - Buy the Truck

2:04

A Better Life: Official Clip - Ready to Get Jumped In

2:14

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Synopsis

Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir), a Mexican undocumented immigrant and veteran Los Angeles day laborer, has trouble connecting with his son, Luis (José Julián), whose gang-affiliated girlfriend is tempting him to ignore his father's example of clean living. Carlos buys a truck to begin working as a self-employed man and earn more money, but when it is stolen, his hopes for a more affluent life are dashed. Unable to turn to the police for help, father and son embark on a quest to find the vehicle.

Director: Chris Weitz
Producer: Jami Gertz, Christian McLaughlin, Stacey Lubliner, Paul Junger Witt, Chris Weitz
Screenwriter: Eric Eason, Roger L. Simon
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Summit Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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