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4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Pink Elephant in the Room Nov 02, 2006
By Jeffery Mingo
Because of the media's sensationalization of "illegal immigration," many Americans have the (mis)perception that life is hunky-dory for all Latinos in the US. This Nuyorican documentary, like the Mexican-American movie "Price of the American Dream," tries to detail the difficulties that newcomers of color face.
I'm not much of a "little-kid person," but the grandchildren in this work were adorable: chubby cheeks, wide eyes, cutesy Spanglish. Robert, the focus of the documentary, is incredibly good partner and father material. Single men in NYC need to hunt his phone number down now!
Reactions to this documentary will split down party lines. Progressives will sympathize with a struggling, poor family of color. The grandmother's heart is so big. Robert does a great job in emphasizing how racism, colonialism, and poverty have helped to keep his relatives, and other Nuyoricans, down. There is a big promotion of black and brown unity in this work. Robert says something poignant: "Yes, my family is on drugs, but if the government would stop taking money out of education, public assistance, and anti-drug programs, then maybe my family could overcome their problems." Conservatives may howl at this. In New York, there are terrible stereotypes that Puerto Ricans are lazy and seek welfare often. Conservatives may say no one forced these family members to take drugs, have unwanted children, and commit crimes. They would say this family represents exactly why government needs to stay small. And prejudiced people certainly won't think nothing of Robert's other identity. Even I was horrified to see a mother, who just admitted that she vomited, kiss several kids. I never would let little kids play in downright filthy pool water.
This documentary tries to imply that only Robert's socioeconomic class differentiates him from his family. However, his mannerisms, good taste, and snappy dress show that he has another identity. When he parties with short-haired women and men with accents just like his, something becomes obvious. He doesn't say the word "gay" until deep into the work. Later his mother says, "I love you no matter what" but doesn't expound on that. A certain rapper/actress/Oscar nominee is probably lesbian, but if she came out, she may lose the many straight women that strongly identify with her and the roles she plays. In a similar vein here, this documentary is supposed to make successful Puerto Ricans empathize with their relatives who haven't "made it." The gay angle may seem like a distraction, but it is so the pink elephant in the room (pun intended).
Robert's gay identity raised so many questions for me. Was his family gay-friendly because they live in a gay Mecca like New York? Does his college education and income mitigate this sexuality to them? Is his life hard not just as the relative of drug addicts, but as a gay man of color? How do his students respond to his being gay? He complains of not having a love life but he also wears a ring on his wedding finger. What up with dat? As a young gay boy, did his sexuality influence him into getting an education and getting out of the barrio? Again, the gay angle would have upset some viewers but it's there and not mined as much as it could have been.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Makes you appreciate your OWN life that much more Dec 09, 2007
By TSP Momma
Don't have time for a long winded review - just to say that it was time VERY WELL spent with my family on a Sunday afternoon to watch this documentary. Being Latino gives me a unique perspective, although of not Puerto Rican decent, into the lives of Robert, his mother and his half-siblings. About 1/2 hour in to the movie I guessed that Robert was gay - and like the other reviewer - wondered if that was somehow a factor that played in to his ability to climb out of the barrio. I liked it so much - I Googled Robert immediately and came to this page first. I want to know how they are doing TODAY!
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