A BETTER LIFE

Just yesterday, I was being chided for going out of my way to track down Oscar contenders. I can understand people’s bemusement, after all it must seem odd for a guy who’s already working on two separate to-see lists already to add in a third – and one with such a short window at that! However, every year I can point to at least one solid film I never would have seen were it not for an award nomination pointing me in that direction. Already this year, I had MARGIN CALL, and now I can add A BETTER LIFE to the list.

A BETTER LIFE isn’t what I’d call a challenging film – though it is a very humble and honest one. The film is about an illegal alien working as landscaper in Los Angeles. This man named Carlos (Demián Bichir), is working as hard as he can to try to provide something better for his son Luis. Unfortunately, Luis is at a rebellious age, nd doesn’t seem to fully appreciate all the effort and sacrifice his father is making on his behalf. At a moment of opportunity, Carlos buys the truck and tools from his boss, thus giving himself a chance to really get ahead. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to live the dream for long before very rudely being shaken awake.

While the film is beautiful in a simplistic sort of way, and eye-catching thanks to a classic L.A. colour palette, it’s Bichir’s performance that stays with you. The man he plays is complicated – the embodiment of both pride and humility at the same time. There are moments when he looks like he wants to take drastic action, but backs away at the last possible second. In these situations, most of us would lash out in anger – and probably even be justified. Yet watching a quiet mercy and compassion wash over Carlos in these crucial moments, one immediately understands his outlook…and has to concede that he is likely a better person than we’ll ever be.

In thinking about Bichir’s nomination, one could argue that it came to the expense of Michael Fassbender (or Ryan Gosling if you really want to push the issue). However, I’d offer that such a trade-off is actually a good thing. Both Fassbender and Gosling had monster years, and neither one of them needed a Best Actor to validate that and potentially land better parts. Bichir needs this. Nudging aside his work on TV’s “Weeds”, his highest profile role before this was his turn as Castro in Steven Soderbergh’s CHE. Throughout this film, he is a breath of fresh air, and an actor that I dearly want to see more from. With a nomination under his belt, he is likely to get offered higher profile parts…and if you are unfamiliar with him, I can assure you that higher profile parts for Bichir is a great thing for us as moviegoers.

A BETTER LIFE is a beautiful cinematic souvenir that I never would have even thought about had it not been for Oscar. It’s a moving story of determination and selflessness. Interestingly, it stands in direct contrast to fellow Oscar nominee A SEPARATION, since the protagonist here is far more interested in doing right over being right.

If more people in the world were like Carlos, perhaps we’d all indeed have a better life.