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A Better Life
Directed by
Chris Weitz
PG-13
2011
1h 38m
Drama
,
Romance
7.2
86%
79%
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A gardener in East L.A. struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while trying to give his son the opportunities he never had.
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Where to Watch A Better Life
Freevee
Free
Tubi TV
Free
Amazon Prime Video
Subscription
+7 more
Cast of A Better Life
Demián Bichir
Carlos Riquelme
José Julián
Luis Galindo
Chelsea Rendon
Ruthie Valdez
Dolores Heredia
Anita
Joaquín Cosío
Blasco Martinez
Carlos Linares
Santiago
Bobby Soto
Facundo
Nancy Lenehan
Mrs. Donnely
Gabriel Chavarria
Ramon
Tim Griffin
Charlie
Isabella Rae Thomas
Linda
Giselle Nieto
Gigi
Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo
A Better Life Ratings & Reviews
Washington Post
Ann Hornaday
"A Better Life" might not change any minds about immigration policy, but it illuminates the conversation with context, compassion and understanding.
Detroit News
Tom Long
The people here seem real, their world is shaky at best, and the political tension that permeates everything in this film feels palpable.
Seattle Times
John Hartl
Weitz, who directed the excellent 2002 Hugh Grant movie, "About a Boy," once more does a sensitive job with iffy material.
Boston Globe
Wesley Morris
It's generic and small but manages to reel you in and surprise you with its grimness.
Arizona Republic
Bill Goodykoontz
If we can see how things will play out long before the characters do, it's still powerful and, one gets the feeling, valuable - not just as a document of the immigration struggle but as a film.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Carrie Rickey
A compassionate character study of a man modeling the values of heart, hard work, self-respect, and self-reliance to his spawn.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Joe Williams
Notwithstanding its modest scope, "A Better Life" richly documents the life of an invisible man.
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
The film's trajectory is rather predictable, but then so was the story told by "The Bicycle Thief." But the performances are pitch perfect...
Austin Chronicle
Marjorie Baumgarten
Unlike its multifaceted director, the film never stretches its boundaries.
Chicago Reader
Andrea Gronvall
A major star in Mexico, Bichir is quietly affecting as the father, a humble striver who faces loss at every turn.
Houston Chronicle
Amy Biancolli
It's straight, true and heartbreaking, a masterstroke of raw emotional minimalism.
New York Post
Lou Lumenick
Weitz keeps the schmaltz in check...
NPR
Jeannette Catsoulis
Neither hopeful nor hopeless, the story is about embracing heritage while striving for more, all the while trying not to step on the neck of your brother.
leonardmaltin.com
Leonard Maltin
A Better Life has more to offer than good intentions: it's sincere and credible, which is more than I can say about an awful lot of movies. Yet something about it kept me at arm's length: I felt the filmmakers' presence instead of losing myself in the...
Christian Science Monitor
Peter Rainer
There are sequences here, like the ones involving men massing for work on street corners, or working the night shift washing dishes, that highlight a closed-off society too often neglected in the movies -- not to mention in real life.
USA Today
Claudia Puig
No matter where you stand on immigration, A Better Life is must-see viewing, poignantly revealing what it's like living confined to the shadows of contemporary society.
Film.com
William Goss
Bichir delivers a note-perfect performance of determination, defeat and pride.
Dallas Morning News
Joy Tipping
Director Chris Weitz neatly avoids sanctimony by centering the engrossing story on a father-son relationship, letting the audience make up its own mind about the overarching matter of illegal immigration.
New York Daily News
Elizabeth Weitzman
With its careful compositions and message-minded dialogue, Chris Weitz's modest drama feels more earnest than real. Still, its sincerity is admirable, and often touching.
Rolling Stone
Peter Travers
On the surface, the film seems like one of those docudramas that beg to be rewarded solely for their good intentions. But Chris Weitz cuts deep. This movie will get under your skin.
Watch A Better Life Videos
A Better Life
A Better Life
Trailer
Luis Asks For Money
Luis Asks For Money
Scene
Take Your Shirt Off
Take Your Shirt Off
Scene
That's Why I Had You
That's Why I Had You
Scene
Blasco Tries To Convince Carlos To Buy His Truck
Blasco Tries To Convince Carlos To Buy His Truck
Scene
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