Tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico.
Acting
Adrian Alonso carries this film at NINE.
Direction
Riggen balances melodrama with brutal realism.
Writing
The payphone scenes? Devastating economy.
Director
Patricia Riggen
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adrian Alonso learned English specifically for this role; his audition impressed Riggen so much she fought the studio to cast him over established child actors.
Released during the 2007 immigration debate surge, the film became a rare studio-backed Spanish-language theatrical hit in the US—Lionsgate's gamble on 'undocumented stories matter' before the industry really believed it.
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