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A Better Life

Play trailer Poster for A Better Life PG-13 2011 1h 38m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 104 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 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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A Better Life

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jesus T. Siento que el final pudo haber estado mejor De ahi en fuera gran pelicula Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/19/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Viri M A movie that hits close to home. Great performances! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/06/23 Full Review Debra B Incredible movie. Highly recommend. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Better Life

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A Better Life

A Better Life: Official Clip - Searching for Santiago A Better Life: Official Clip - Searching for Santiago 2:30 A Better Life: Official Clip - A Reason to Live A Better Life: Official Clip - A Reason to Live 3:37 A Better Life: Official Clip - Charreada A Better Life: Official Clip - Charreada 2:26 A Better Life: Official Clip - License, Registration, and Prison A Better Life: Official Clip - License, Registration, and Prison 3:37 A Better Life: Official Clip - Grand Theft Truck A Better Life: Official Clip - Grand Theft Truck 2:55 A Better Life: Official Clip - Taking it Back A Better Life: Official Clip - Taking it Back 2:23 A Better Life: Official Clip - Why Did You Have Me? A Better Life: Official Clip - Why Did You Have Me? 2:16 A Better Life: Official Clip - Buy the Truck A Better Life: Official Clip - Buy the Truck 2:04 A Better Life: Official Clip - Ready to Get Jumped In A Better Life: Official Clip - Ready to Get Jumped In 2:14 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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