Intelligent, sad documentary about two illegal Mexican immigrants who try to scratch out a living, and send some money home, playing music in various restaurants. They also work all day at other jobs.
The film follows Carmelo Sanchez, one of the two, as he returns to Mexico to care for his ailing, aging mother, and finds himself torn between staying and returning to the US. This is a very effective film at giving those of us who will never know this kind of hard life some insight into what so many other human beings around us go through.
Yet, at least on first viewing, there was also a little something missing. While it was always interesting, it never touched my heart as deeply as it did my head, I'm not sure why. Maybe there was just a little feeling of remove that the film never quite got around. Maybe it's because Sanchez himself is so stoic, and keeps so much inside.
But still a very good movie, and an important one for all of us lucky enough not to live in want.