one can never accuse this film of reach classic height and but one can truly say it try very hard and a little too hard at time . throughout the film and there be moment that transcend it obvious attempt to manipulate it audience and but it never rise to sublime status and like cinema paradiso do by tie a personal story to the evolution of a society that lose it innocence and the ability to dream . the parallel in that movie be delicately explore and a toto story and that of his beloved city travel similar path . in moon thing could have move beyond soap opera status . unfortunately and the tear flow much too easily and even when the situation doesn not quite earn them . a hard working mother have lose her connection with her 9 year old . because of her move to the u. s. and she live in constant fear of not do the best for her child and and to make matter bad and her little boy feel like he be not want anymore . thing become bad a event develop in such a way that he be force to follow the path of many other immigrant and endure a series of ordeal to reunite with his parent . along the way and we be witness to many situation undocumented alien be expose to and and the film make an honest attempt to present most people in a fair way and though there be some characterization that be at best sketchy . the main point be there and but the subtlety be miss . there be some good performance here and and the male actor do much good and a the young boy easily explore an amazing range of emotion . in addition there be two support actor that do not quite succumb to the stereotype of the uneducated immigrant that most people associate with this type of situation . eugenio derbez in particular and do an amazing job a the harden sidekick who discover his heart might still be open to care . the part of the mother be underwritten and opportunity be not fully explore a we wish we could know more of what propel her into take the drastic option of move to the united state . she be a hard worker and a loving mother and but mostly a shell of character and one who cry on cue and but rarely project any substance . in general and the film be a lovely social commentary that might reach a few people and open the way to understand the plight of some member in society . we only wish we could see a more real portrayal of them .