Under the Same Moon

Tiffany Nelson

Sociology Unit #3

08/08/09

Along with a numerous number of countries come a vast number of cultural differences, values, norms, and traditions. With the world consisting of many different people and cultures the expectance of negative aspects, assumptions, or generalizations is not uncommon and can be summed up in the concept of ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is defined as the tendency to believe that one’s own race or ethnic group is the most important and that some or all aspects of its culture are superior to those of other groups. (Wikipedia, 2009) Directed by Patricia Riggen, the film “La Misma Luna” also known as “Under the Same Moon” provides viewers with a glimpse of what life is like in the Mexican culture. While also introducing Mexican values and norms the film also addresses stereotypes and cultural biases distorted throughout the world.

The drama, “Under the Same Moon” centers on a young boy’s journey across the US and Mexico border to be reunited with his mother. (Riggen, 2007)The Mexican adolescent, Carlito lives with his grandmother while his mother works as a maid in Los Angeles, California. Carlito’s mother, Rosario hopes to save up enough money and someday send for her child. When the grandmother dies unexpectedly, Carlito must sneak across the border and seek out his mother. Throughout this heartwarming and inspirational film, Carlito’s struggle to cross the border was depicted.

Often called the “forgotten people” because of their lack of inclusion in history books, Mexican Americans are portrayed either in a negative light or as a stereotype. (Oracle Education Foundation, 2008) The comparison of Mexico and the United States was undoubtedly noticeable in “Under the Same Moon”. The ethnocentric mind set displayed in the film was objectively two-sided through subliminal messages. Both cultures believe or see each other’s country as “screwed up”. (Oracle Education Foundation, 2008) In particular, there was a scene in the movie...