Al final del día (2007) User Reviews

Worth your time...

[rominacanina · 7/10 · 26 October 2009]

A very interesting story that is simple, yet deep. However, it has two flaws. 1. It's major flaw is the character of the Mexican gardener. It seems like a character from an old cartoon. Very poorly written and non-complex. In fact, as a Latina, I was a bit insulted by the dream sequence. Very stereotyped. 2. The dancing class is also an stereotype that makes the movie a bit worse that it would've been without it.

I don't know if the filmmaker is Mexican himself or Mexican/American. From the dedication, I think he may be raised in the USA. I do feel the Latino characters lack credibility.

Apart from these, I enjoyed the movie. I like the character of the old man. The story is very enjoyable. Photography, art, and editing are good enough.

Well made

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 28 January 2009]

This is a very well made and interesting short film about the cultural gap between native-born Americans and Mexican immigrants--as well as their common ground.

A retired man is relaxing at home when he looks outside and sees a guy planting his rose bushes--and he has no idea who this man is or why he's doing it. When he goes outside to talk to him, it's all a confusing mess because neither understands the language. At first he assumed his wife arranged for the man to do the work, but a phone call to her reveals that she also knows nothing about the guy. So, the wife calls a Hispanic friend and this lady talks to the Mexican man to figure out what's happening. It seems that he's a recent arrival in the country and simply wants to do anything to get a meal--and perhaps if he plants the roses he'll get food.

Well, the retired guy is shocked by how hard this man works, so he buys him lunch. Later, when the yard looks great, the Mexican man is gone--it seems he assumed the lunch was payment for all the work. I was happy to see this was not an "evil American taking advantage of the poor Mexican film"--and for hours the retired guy drove about town--trying to find the man to pay him.

It's a nice film and gives some nice insights into the experience of hard working Mexicans in a new land where they are all but lost. Well acted and directed.