TEHRAN – The Cinematheque of the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) will screen American director Chris Weitz’s 2011 movie “A Better Life” on Monday.

Iranian scholar Gholamreza Haddad will attend the review session, which will be organized after a screening in the Nasseri Hall of the forum at 5 pm.

Starring Demian Bichir and Jose Julian, the film follows the story of Carlos Galindo, an undocumented immigrant living in Los Angeles. Despite facing numerous setbacks and challenges, including a lack of job security and being robbed of his truck, which is his main source of income, Carlos remains determined to provide a better life for his son, Luis. 

The film portrays the struggles that undocumented immigrants face in trying to make a living and support their families in America, while also highlighting the strong bonds between parent and child.

As the film progresses, Carlos forms a bond with another immigrant, an abusive boss, who provides him with an opportunity to gain back what he's lost. 

The father-son relationship between Carlos and Luis is a significant theme throughout the film. Carlos wants his son to have the American dream and complete his education, which he feels he missed out on. Carlos also wants his son to stay away from gang culture, which is prevalent in their neighborhood. The struggles and sacrifice that Carlos makes for his son's wellbeing are at the heart of the film.

"A Better Life" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Demian Bichir's portrayal of Carlos Galindo. Although it did not win the Oscar, Bichir won several other accolades for his performance, including the Best Actor Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and Imagen Award for Best Actor. 

Additionally, the film won the NCLR ALMA Award for Best Latino-themed English-language motion pictures.

SAB/