by Erik Sean McGiven on Jun 26, 2007

Chris Eska's debut feature is about an undocumented Texas farm worker (non-pro Pedro Castanenda) who takes to the road with his widowed daughter-in-law (newcomer Veronica Loren) after losing his wife and his job in rapid succession.  In this unhurried drama the story centers on the conflict between generations and the difficulty aging parents and grown children have in expressing both their love and disappointment in each other. They attempt to resolve the push-pull disparity between personal goals and desires and one's obligation to family. Change is inevitable in this story and seeing the fabric of family torn apart then patched up makes the journey exceedingly worth while.

The powerful, lived-in performances are the result of Eska's concise direction and keen casting.  Pedro Castaneda actually spent his early days working as a migrant farmer in Texas.  Being this was his first acting job he and Eska rehearsed for two months prior to production.  He comes off looking like a pro. Veronica Loren also took to her role adding a good amount of weight to give her character a dowdy appearance.  Repressed and sadden you can feel the inner turmoil churning within her character as she seeks to find peace. A stellar performance to say the least, one that could be her breakout role.  Abel Becerra and Sandra Rios play the other siblings each reflecting the ever-changing family dynamics with adept believability. Walter Perez's character plays the suitor with warmth and sincerity, stretching the bonds of family.