La Misma Luna Essay

The film La Misma Luna presents a sad reality of the challenge of illegal immigration compounded with trauma illegal immigrants in U.S undergoes in their attempt to cross into U.S soil. In the film, submits to illegal and dangerous means to cross the border and sadly, live with the constant anxiety of being noticed by authorities. The sad reality in the film is how the local authorities totally disregard these illegal immigrants through arrest using physical force including hitting the suspects with batons. As Rosario gets separated with her son, Carlitos the boy submits to illegal immigration mode through coyotes as the only alternative of looking for his mother.
Murphy (17) states that in the wake of modern economic challenges, the film gives an insight of poverty that continues to rampage the lives of immigrants in poverty agreeing to undertake any job in total disregard to the risks involved. Firstly, Rosario sneaks into

U.S using dubious means where she gets employed and lives with fear of being caught by the police. Besides, the hope to provide a better life for her son who by the time she went to the U.S was in the care of her mother. As the sad reality dawns on the boy upon the death of her grandmother, a young boy embarks on a journey that would later re-unite him with her mother. The director of the film explores how these illegal immigrants take up compromising job to eke a living. In fact, a man is shown crying after an accidental pesticide infiltration to his eyes. Besides, the boy later takes up a job in a restaurant after poverty strikes him as he attempts to look for his mother.
Visual Elements in the Film
La Misma Luna is a modern day film that takes the viewers on a journey. The setting of the film varies significantly, but presents different environment and situation that the character finds himself (Murphy 19). Besides, the setting ranges from lavish cities and restaurants in Los Angels to poverty-stricken background of the boy. In addition, the boy finds himself in the truck as he illegal gets immigrated by coyotes. The director of the film in bringing out the crude mode of trans-border dubious strategies succeeded in highlighting reckless police checks at the border.
In addition, the film presents an immoral society where sexual trade and drug abuse colors the scene.
As the film progresses, the boy finds himself at the edge of being caught by the police.

In the same scene, some women dresses provocatively around the restaurant suggestive of females working in the sex trade. In addition, men characters are seen wearing small boxer shorts an indication of immorality at the restaurants where immigrants find themselves working. The film portrays a woman smoking and men drinking beer as they watch a football match (Murphy 23). It is, therefore, certain that through costume designs immorality is brought to focus.
The lighting system across the film is a three-point lighting. With this strategy, the producer of the film helps to unmask the human face at different emotional presentation. For instance, the fear and anxiety in the face of the boy during the police pursuit is definite. In addition, the somber mood that sets into Rosario on the realization that her son was missing is clear. Through this lighting strategy, the producer of the film makes the mood of the entire film overt to the audience (Murphy

21).
In addition, the film presents a wide array of the character traits of the actors. As Carlos embarks on the search for his mother, he encounters other illegal immigrants who are either benevolent or cruel. Besides, Rosario is presented as a loving mother who illegal crosses Mexican border into U.S to take up a housemaid job and constantly sends money to her son and ailing mother. Despite the harsh economic reality that illegal immigrants face, she puts her effort and focus on the interest of her family.
The film identifies illegal immigration into the U.S and cruel treatment of these immigrants while in United States. However, the film fails to make a stand on this critical issue, highlighting the problem is fair, but not comprehensive when there is no possible solution suggested. In addition, the film portrays the illegal immigration as a bravery and heroic act and substantially fail to highlight conviction to end this menace.
In placing a nine-year-old child at the mercy and cruelty of the strangers, leaves a bit of bad taste. The perilous situation that a young boy continually comes in contact with the harsh police officer too is insensitive and equally scaring to the average audience. Despite these shortcomings, the film clearly explicit its central theme of illegal immigration and the challenges of illegal immigrants.
Additionally, when immigrants cross the border, the film portrays a sad reality that it is not a bed of roses to be an illegal immigrant. They are voiceless group of people who are in constant contact with police and under the mercy of their employers. Although those in charge of immigration policy enforcement are shown as faceless and threatening in all manner, illegal immigration continues to pose enormous risks to the immigrants.
The film presents illegal immigration and harm that illegal immigrants continually face while at the United States. Although the story explores a mother-son relationship, it uses this personal experience to reach out to the audience of the sad reality of illegal immigration. In addition, it brings out the profanity, brief violence episodes and derogatory slur that all gears towards demystifying its theme.