A Beautiful Life

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.