This past June, ULTCW, CHIRLA, LAANE, PowerPAC and UHW members, staff and supporters met up in Commerce for a very special screening and panel discussion of the film, ‘A Better Life’. Now, six months later, Demian Bichir, the main character, is up for an Oscar for ‘Best Actor’ (among the likes of George Clooney, Gary Oldman and Brad Pitt).
After hearing the news, Bichir states, “The main hope is that more people will see the movie and learn about the 11 million undocumented people in the United States, who are invisible to Americans,” A true dedication to the hard work and positive impact immigrants have on our communities.
In a time when the political stakes are so high and politicians often draw hard lines against immigration it is even more important to recognize story behind every family that comes here “undocumented”. This film reminds us of that reality; that the decision to cross the border illegally is not one that is taken lightly, that moving, often thousands of miles from home, for a chance at a better life is not an easy move to make.
In the film, Mr. Bichir plays an undocumented Mexican immigrant struggling to make a place for himself and his son by working as a gardener around Los Angeles. The film, comes from the Academy Award nominated director of ‘About a Boy’, Chris Weitz, and deals with gangs, parenthood, and the everyday struggles of working families. Through the film we see what a parent will do to give their children the life they never had.
As an organization steadfast in support of comprehensive immigration reform, its great to see this spotlight on the issue. A truly inspirational film, here at ULTCW we see this as a big win for working families, true immigration reform and the American Dream.
Check out the trailer for ‘A Better Life’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaLSBdL-zCY
