Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This is such a strong movie. It shows the ordeals that hard working people have to endure in life in order to provide for their families. The sad thing is that many people think of the negative side of immigrants in this country. It is true that there are those, who abuse the system and make the rest of us seems like free loaders. But in this movie, we see how one hard working man only wants a job, any job so he can support his family. The reality of life is harsh and it can be seen here, those of us who take for granted the life and opportunities that this country offers us, should be ashame of themselves. I would rather see people like Carmelo be able to stay in this country and those who drink, do drugs and are breaking the law be kick out. He is what really represents the hard working immigrant that deserves the chance to the American dream.

I would love to know what happen with Carmelo...is he back to San Francisco? This movie touched my soul, made me feel the frustration of Carmelo trying to provide for his family. This documentary is wonderful, how I wish all those people from the minuteman would watch this documentary and see the illegal's reality ...they are only people trying to survive and that is not a crime!!!. I am sure if the minuteman was in Carmelo's shoes he would do the same thing for his family. I wish they could make another documentary about his life and what happen to his daughters. I am a native of South America and I was able to relate with Carmelo's idea of making a sacrifice for a better future for your own family. Is not easy to leave your family behind and live in another country in order to get ahead is very painful.

This is the kind of film that Hollywood-hungry documentary makers seem to be avoiding these days. Romantico is storytelling at its best: craftsman-like and engrossing. It relies not on narrative bells and whistles but rather a steady, patient camera that captures the deep strength of the human spirit. Too often we are besieged with stories of immigrants via newspaper headlines and the nightly newscasts. But these reports are often one-dimensional and merely a backdrop to the political battles being fought (supposedly on their behalf) in our nation's capital. But here is a film that allows the camera to linger and capture a story that is sure to move you. It is hard to find any fault with a film that seems to render two lives in such real and meaningful ways. Granted, you will not find the increasingly popular narrative styles and devices that are cropping up in such films as Murderball and Spellbound. But you will come away not only with a deeper understanding of the human beings behind the recent immigration headlines, but with clearer insight into your own struggles and dreams.

I wish there would be a sequel for Romantico to tell us what happened to Carmelo after the last bus scene. The reverse migration is interesting because it shows that many illegal immigrants want to go back to their country because of the strong ties to family and land. The morality of a man who risked his life by crossing the Rio Grande or through the mountains earn some dollars not for his own enjoyment but for his family back home and specially for his daughter Juanita whom he want to secure her future and save her destiny from prostitution. The narration of this part was so touching and goes directly to the heart.I left the theater wanting more of the movie and for many days kept on wondering what happened to Carmelo, Carmela, Juanita and the younger daughter who doesn't speak much. Bravo Mark Becker Show us more of your work.