“What’s more likely to manipulate your emotions and bring a few tears to your eyes than a story about a mother and child trying to find each other? A touching story with soap opera touches. I loved the music!”
“Excellently written. Very emotional.”
“This is a bad year to leave your children with grandparents – the boy sent to the grandfather in THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION. Both films used family and emotions to make a political point, as, in fact, did THE BAND’S VISIT. Three great films from three politically sensitive areas of the world. Those are three great Saturday mornings."
“Deeply moving and touching film. The cast was excellent.”
“A heartbreaking joy to experience. Propaganda, political and powerful. A plot within a sub-plot.”
“Very poignant film. I enjoyed it very much and felt much empathy for the immigrants in the film. It also touched on the love of different mothers and how far they will go for children. A real tear jerker and nerve wrenching at times.”
“Very sappy and not realistic!”
“Very touching film. Carlito’s mother is more a Madonna figure as opposed to mature woman.”
“Remember we stole land from Mexico. It’s their land, but now they’re not allowed on it. Go figure…”
“A sweet charming story, don’t look too deep. I like it even though we could see where it was going to the very end. But I did like the ‘never give up theme.’ Immigration is a very complex situation. This movie presents too simplistic a view of the issues involved. Carlito was excellent as was his mother.”
“Home is where mom is, even if you have to go through many obstacles to get there. Tearful, manipulative and charming film. Would the story have the same impact if mom wasn’t so gorgeous and Carlito wasn’t cunning and loveable? Great soundtrack. ‘SUPERMAN IS ILLEGAL’ is the best. Never realized there is so much music about being illegal.”
“Great story. The little boy was adorable and a wonderful actor!”
“I loved it! So touching and heartwarming.”
“A touching and personal look at illegal immigration. A political film smothered in emotions.”
“Nice tearjerker.”
“Need the American housewife who fires her be SO callous and live in SUCH a cold tomb of a house? Yes the other woman who hires her cares enough to find her, so we’re not all unfeeling rich gringos.”
“Great, sad, funny, happy ending.”
“A gripping story, if somewhat far-fetched. The boy’s acting was amazing! The characters were too stereotyped for creditability.”
“Tough subject treated with honesty and a touch of humor. An amazing performance by the young boy.”
“I loved it even more than the first time I saw it!”
“Terrific final shot, and aside from the political allegory of ‘crossing,’ a great way to end a movie without swelling music and over-sentimentality. Well done, and from a first-time filmmaker!”
“Bravo! I loved this movie. Aside from the political agenda I think another message was love. It can help us to overcome the most difficult things in life.”
“Good story, but not good film making.”
“A terrific boy’s adventure and the immigrant Mexican/U.S. situation is a perfect context for it.”
“As a fairy tale the film succeeds mostly as manipulative propaganda.”
“Sappy and predictable.”