Romantico

As melancholic and bittersweet as a soulful ballad, Romantico tells the tale of Carmelo and his friend, Arturo, two Mexican mariachi singers who roam bars, restaurants, and streets of San Francisco, playing for tips from people who think nothing about them in return. A warm, insightful, and moving film, Romantico is tangentially about illegal immigration, United States/Mexican economics, the romantico music of the title, and the subterranean American alien community. But at the heart of Mark Becker's beautifully shot, poetic film are the fundamental love and devotion of a father to his family; his desire above all is to provide them a descent living and a better future.

Full of humanity and heart, Romantico shows us the high cost of survival when battling systematic poverty; the hardship of being an artist when there is no rainbow, and certainly no pot of gold; and the deeply felt significance of the family and home.