SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
RyothChatty
ridiculous rating
Dorathen
Better Late Then Never
Keeley Coleman
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
blakestkh
In light of the invasion at the Southern border of the United States going on now, my niece suggested I watch this movie. My heart is saddened and heavy for these children. I see that movie was made several years ago so I wonder where are they today? Did they ever actually make it into the country? The abject poverty in each country among the people is horrifying. The family conditions that these children grew up in is horrifying. The pain that these children grew up in is horrifying. It's hard to even comprehend children having to live this way. The two 9-year-olds were heart-breaking. What happened to them? Where is Kevin today? What is he doing? Why don't the leaders of these countries do something for their people? I know there is corruption with their governments and drug cartels, but these leaders can't change that? Or won't? Yes, America is a nation of immigrants. America has a system for immigrants to come here. I have family who immigrated to this country in the past several years. They came here legally and worked to do what they needed to become citizens. We can't just let THOUSANDS of unaccompanied children stream into our country as they are doing right now on our Southern borders!! It is impossible for us to take care of them all. We can't sustain that as a country!! Certainly our immigration system needs updating but we HAVE to secure our borders FIRST.
Martin Teller
This documentary follows several children trying to get to America from Central American or southern Mexico, entirely on their own. These are naturally sad stories, but I have to say they're hardly surprising. In fact, the most surprising thing is that the homes they're fleeing really don't seem THAT bad. But I suppose the siren call of the mythical American Dream is too much for some to resist. Director Rebecca Cammisa wisely stays away from politicizing the situation, and the film is done without narration and only brief informational titles. However, this means there is also a lack of any proposed remedies to the problem. It seems to me these kids are better off sticking it out at home, at least until they're old enough to better fend for themselves. Whatever the case, the material is very engaging as we get wrapped up in the plight of these young vagabonds.
sleisnaugle
I first started watching this film one late night when I could find nothing better on TV...after the first 20 minutes of the movie I found myself trying to stay wake just to finish it. The movie starts off with a large group of children boarding the top of a train late one night but then starts to focus in on a few select children. They begin to tell the stories of why they are trying to make the dangerous voyage to America. One of the little boys chose to make the journey because he was told it would be best for his family and that his stepfather did not want him around. Another little boy ran away from home just to make the journey because he dreamed of a better life. While another child makes the trip as an attempt to live with a family member who currently lives in America and dreams of the education America could offer.I found the movie to be very riveting. When watching this film it is really easy to get caught up in emotion for the situations these strong children face and the fates that become of some of them. Overall the movie was captivating and a real tearjerker. It also bring to the forefront the situation we currently face with illegal immigration in America.
flinched
Children who live in poverty and wretched conditions climb on to freight trains bound for the U.S. in hopes of a better life. When they talk of the U.S. they dream of television realities, tall buildings, beautiful people, the land of plenty, smiles all the while on their faces. But on the inside these kids are filled with pain. To reach that dream, they go through hell. Burglarized and beaten all the while hungry with the potential of being raped and murdered, all for the sake of trying to get a job in the U.S. to feed their family or go to school. This 16 year old boy talks about witnessing a mother and daughter being raped by 15 men and there's this tear in his eye that can't quite drop. His pain is suppressed. All these children attempt to drown their pain, to bury it, all the while hoping, praying, for that one chance that they may have a better life. It's hard to review this movie and not want to talk about immigration policy. But I won't, I'll let the movie do that for me and hopefully people will begin to open their eyes to some of the harsh realities the U.S. immigration policy creates. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.