Levo Você Comigo

A fascinating hybrid of narrative and documentary, Heidi Ewing's 'I Carry You with Me' is a devastatingly gorgeous and ultimately hopeful love story with a powerful political point. Armando Espitia and Christian Vázquez deliver beautiful performances. A compelling romance but it really unfolds into a vital call for US immigration reform.

IN BRIEF: A gay love story that intertwines with the perils of illegal immigration.

Heidi Ewing's I Carry You With Me (Te Llevo Conmigo) is a tame telling of gay love that spans a decade. We witness Iván (Armando Espitia) meeting Gerardo (Christian Vázquez) at a gay bar and sense their instant attraction. The film flashes back and forth as it shows familial and cultural pressures placed upon these two gay men as they both dream of a better life.

Based on a true story, the movie shows their quest for the American Dream as the lovers are separated on their journey. Ms. Ewing has a strong commitment to this tale and, at times, gets caught up in her political message. Still she forcefully depicts the immigration hardships and homophobia that many face in their daily lives across the border and in our country as well.

The two lead actors are quite convincing in their roles and add much to their characters sketchy parts. One wishes the filmmakers had the courage and boldness to depict some sexual scenes before "tastefully" cutting away from those moments. But the bigger misstep is whenever the film flashes forward and has other actors assume the central roles as an older Iván and Gerardo. It is then that the impact of that relationship is lost and fragmented.

Still, the film impresses with its message of diversity and acceptance. (GRADE: B-)

A narrative documentary like movie based on true events that poignantly details the themes in this story- love, immigration and friendship.

The back and forth jumps between past and present could have been better though, and the pacing towards the end could have been better too.

I didn't know before seeing this film that undocumented migrants could work, have businesses or jobs in the US but not be allowed ever to return if they leave even for a short holiday. This film is a cri de coeur to change this iniquitous system.

The actors were simply perfect, both the young incarnations and the older ones. It was easy to imagine that these two sets of main characters especially could have been the same people in their earlier or later lives. I especially liked the touch at the end when we see photos of all of the real characters at various times in their lives culminating in a photo of the real guys who inspired the story posing with the actors who played them.

One other refreshing thing was the absence of simulated sex going on. Gay or straight, it seems to be obligatory nowadays in films and TV that people have to get into bed and show it all after the merest kiss.

As this was based on a true story, at some points the tension flagged; we knew they got to the States, for example. However, it was still a revelation to see the horror of getting over the border and how easy it is to die on the way.

At an hour and fifty one minutes, this was just right in length. There wasn't any padding at all. It was a fascinating glimpse into attitudes and adventures that most of us never see. Bittersweet at the end but life went on. I do recommend this film.

A young Mexican finds himself a boyfriend, but when his family finds out, he is denied access to his young son, given his work of low status and pay. He decides to find success as a chef by crossing illegally to the U. S. Decades later, he realizes that all his success may not reunite him with his son.

This is based on a real story, directed by a documentary filmmaker. So I was surprised that it was given a very non-linear treatment. Starting in approximately "present day", it is told in multiple interwoven flashbacks. There is the child, the young man in Mexico and U. S., scenes from his rise in the U,S., and "today". Switching back and forth, it was fairly demanding for the viewer to keep track of when the event was. For a non-Spanish-speaking audience, this was in addition to keeping up with the subtitles.

I expect some viewers will see this thru a political lens. Does an illegal who succeeds deserve some form of permanent residency, even if it is not a path to citizenship?