Al Otro Lado

This touching film compares and contrasts the parallel lives of three children in different parts of the world who are all struggling with the absence of their fathers, who have emigrated "to the other side" to find work.

I teach Spanish and I showed this film to my students with great results. They get the benefit of hearing spoken Spanish with three distinct regional accents (rural Mexico, Cuba, Spain), and the subtitles are done very well (they can also be turned off). Some of my students were disappointed that the stories didn't have happily-ever-after endings, but that opened up into good discussions about some of the social issues that arise in the childrens' lives. The film is subtle and tasteful in its treatment of social issues surrounding emigration and poverty. Most of my students live comfortably sheltered, and after watching this film we were able to have meaningful discussions about how they could and could not relate to the children in the film. If you'll be showing this to young people, be aware that there are two very brief shots of non-sexual nudity (Since I'm in a school setting, I covered up the screen for those moments).

Overall, a wonderful piece! I highly recommend it.

good movie. almost made me cry :.( almost...
Three different kids from different parts of the world want to be with their dad's and do everything in their power to do so. so so sad.

A realistic film that deals with the struggles of people of developing countries and their search for better opportunities. Entirely in Spanish, intended for a Spanish speaking audience.

This movie is not appropriate for a Spanish classroom. There is a scene in which a woman gets out of the bed and uses the bathroom with the door open. This is not appropriate for a school setting. The plot was also not very interesting.

Recommended, especially for those who know or are learning Spanish. The section on the young girl from North Africa who travels to Spain to find her father is especially good.