This is a film balanced somewhere between documentary and tear-jerker, but ultimately is neither. It just seems like that because the setting is quite real and the reality is moving.
Quite apart from the central story of Leti I found the detailed surroundings quite fascinating. The interactions between the children, between the grown-ups, and society as a whole. This is not much of a story about immigration to the USA, although that is background and a brief part of the story is an interlude in Chicago. If you are looking for an immigration expose this is not it. Mostly the story is about the family (both close, and extended) left behind. You get a broad brush image of family relations, prejudices, marriage, machismo, religion, and the flavor of the town where Leti and her brothers and sisters are growing up. And not painted either pretty or nasty on the whole - simply shown to you for you to think about. Plenty of things to think about.
The acting is varied. Leti, her mother, abuelito and abuelita are all well acted. Nobody else has a big role. Kudos to Leti's fairer sister who starts out a little wooden but you can see becomes a much better actress as the film progresses. There are a couple of violent scenes which are acted out in an obviously faked way - not big budget stunt person stuff. Really, it does not matter, the film has its personality and the acting gets the story across.
Colors and cinematography are occasionally allowed some free reign to show the countrysides and cityscapes. Presentation was letterbox, a disappointment (hey studio dunderheads! use anamorphic, give us proper DVD quality). Subtitles are kept within the letterbox frame, a good thing (you can read them when the film is expanded to full screen). Translation was competent. Sound was clear and the soundtrack choice of music was generally helpful.
