Netflix streaming – I gave it 4 stars. Netflix rated it as a 4.9 for me, with the average rating being 4.0. I don’t know why they thought it would be, basically, a 5 for me.

This movie is another one that shows just how good we have it in Canada and the United States. In many countries in the world, good decent people often are victimized by others, and this movie shows that it is also true in The Philippines. The main character, Oscar, takes his wife and two small children into the big city when their farming life becomes unsustainable. With very little money and very few belongings, they are hopeful that they can make it work. However, they are taken advantage of repeatedly by more streetwise people that are only out for themselves, not caring what happens to their victims.

Things get complicated for Oscar when he gets a good, though dangerous, job and appears to be befriended by his new boss. In the end, Oscar has some hard choices to make and his early statement that desperate situations force desperate actions comes around to him. The first half of the movie is more of a slice-of-life portrayal, while the last half of the movie becomes more of an action/heist movie, with some complicated and entertaining twists. This movie does a great job of making you care for the characters.

Another movie I liked a lot in this genre is Sin Nombre, which I would highly recommend.