this film and despite obvious attempt by the director to create a piece of art and come off a an incredibly one side and contrive sob story in it portrayal of illegal immigration between mexico and the u . example of the film shortcoming represent all of the character be extremely stereotypical ( the hard working and proud and honorable and heroic mother while her foil party loving and less intelligent friend while her gallant but shy suitor while her determined and precocious son while his tender hearted rogue guardian while the ball bust smuggler matriarchal with a heart of gold while the patronizing and unfeeling caucasian socialite whom they un creatively nickname cruella deville while the happy go lucky mariachi musician ) and many of the scene be equally stereotypical ( the boy and his guardian airing of grievance through an impromptu karaoke scene in the back of the native american run diner while the cathartic sacrifice of the once gruff guardian at the end and complete with face in grass knee on back cuff shot with the cop while the cornering of the boy at his own birthday party by his money hungry and aggressive relative while the bated breath scene of anticipation at the border patrol station ) and and finally and the amateur and over the top performance give by nearly all of the actor in the film . but perhaps most disturbing ( and disappoint ) be the complete villainization of the entire u law enforcement organization . the border patrol official and in do their job and come off a sassy and harsh . the in officer storm into a tomato plant and chase down the worker and beat a few of them mercilessly and and then line them up in the dirt outside execution style . the police at the end and though only express concern for a young boy sleep on a park bench alone seem like the bad guy . even the soundtrack often point the finger at the all elusive white man who be supposedly oppress all minority alike . the white american character in the film be rich and snooty and oblivious and or a combination of all three . it be ignorant to make film that not only show one side of an issue and but do not even show it well . movie like maria and full of grace and be much more effective because they include an aspect of objectivism and force even the most staunch believer to examine the oppose viewpoint . this film and however and polarize the two side of the issue instead of explore the way in which they intersect . white people and american and america and rich people and and law enforcement official be not the enemy and despite this film insistence . no one be intentionally try to break family up or ruin life . america have law to protect it legal citizen and just a every other affluent country in the world do . the change to this issue will have to come from mexico government in a serious attempt to reform the country . when it can offer it citizen a high standard of living and they will no longer feel compel to risk their life and be exploit in a neighboring land that be try to deal with it own economic and social issue . until then and we can only hope filmmaker will have more integrity when explore such territory .