A Vida é Bela

This modest film focuses on a poignant relationship of a young man and woman, who share a common bond of desperation in their lives. The film is memorable for the two fine performers of the roles of Maggie and David.

The young man is an illegal immigrant seeking to bring his mother into the country, after he has risked his life to escape his lot in Mexico. The young woman has left home due to her abusive father. In the film, the relationship of the couple really evolves over the course of the action.

Although this is not a great film, it is sincere in depicting the emotional lives of the characters. It is also an economical film. It was refreshing to experience a 75-minute movie when compared with so many films that drag on senselessly for over two hours.

It was also interesting to see the role of a library, which impacted the life of the young woman. The kind librarian, who recognized a young woman undergoing a crisis, provided the crucial intervention for potentially saving a life. How many films today depict a library as a safe haven and a librarian as an angel of mercy?

The author Henry David Thoreau wrote that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." The two young actors really took some risks in exposing the raw, emotional lives of their characters. They deserve acknowledgment for their efforts and achievements in this film.

Having read that this is based on a play after seeing it, I understand why in some moments it felt like bad theater at its worst. The whole production was cringe-worthy. Starting with bad lighting, bad cinematography and bad sound and ending with Bai Ling. When she's one of the top heads in your floating heads poster, you've got a problem. One can't really blame the actors because they had almost nothing to work with. Every main character is a cliché and speaks with the innocence of someone who has never watched TV or been online. That's fine for a play but when you watch a movie you expect actual human beings, not archetypal sketches. Bai Ling plays the stripper with the heart of gold, while the other main leads dabble in such riveting characters as "abused teen" and "illegal immigrant". The movie feels rushed and there's no place for character development when every other line is a platitude. The movie features two short scenes featuring a couple of big stars from Romania. Had the movie been better, they would have had a chance to either shine or sink. As it is, they give just a couple of more underdeveloped scenes which will make the viewers either smile or roll their eyes. The concept of the movie "love conquers all" has been done to death, many times with great results, so this feels unnecessary at best. The only good moment in the film is delivered by Dana Delaney, who should stick to Desperate Housewives or get a better agent.

it can be version of a common story. or only drawing of social problems. it can be part of a long chain about search of life sense by young people. but, in fact, it represents only a window. not clean, not open. only frame for a sad picture. it is not great or special. only a honest exercise to present few characters in a strange world. only consolation - the love. like in many films - key of freedom, heart of existence. so, two actors makes an interesting and nice work. a film far to be beautiful or impressive but, like an ash ball, it is not boring. sure, an indie film is not a revelation but it can be sign of different perception of common things. and occasion for short moment of reflection about art as voice of street.

This is pretty close to being the worst movie ever. It's running a close second I think behind that movie about the car tire that rolls around vaporizing birds mysteriously. Everything about this movie is bad from the sound to the lighting, the acting, and worst of all how predictable it is.

Some scenes are extremely dark so much so that you can barely see what's going on and look like a complete amateur set it up.

The acting is pretty bad as well from all angles. In fairness to the actors the script was probably pretty bad in the first place. My favorite scene that I winced at the most was where an argument was happening and the main character repeated the same word at least 10 times. Really? Who wrote this!

The script is insanely cliché as well... Every character plays a stereotype.

If there is one redeeming quality about this flick is that it does partially take place at Sams hofbrau in LA, a strip club I have been to. The redeeming part comes from a few topless shots in the movie. A couple of the girls are even kind of cute. That's about it though. Watch only if your really bored and/or hungover like I was.