Shot with a real sense of authenticity and urgency, the film looks terrific and the actors all deliver amazingly honest, open performances. We can see their passion for the issues involved, especially as Maya and Rosa clash over their opinions ... and as Maya discovers some difficult truths about their past. There's also a very nice romantic triangle in here, with Maya attracted to Sam, while her coworker Ruben (Chavez), with aspirations of becoming a lawyer, woos her. These storylines are superb, but you get the point Loach is really interested in the politics, and in this area he comes out with all guns blazing, attacking all the traditional targets: corrupt government, big business, immigration law, union fat cats, bureaucracy and of course the American health care and education systems. Viva la revolución! It's not that any of this is poorly aimed (on the contrary!), but it's all far too heavy-handed for one little film.