A great big hit at film festivals around America, Raising Victor Vargas is the polar opposite of most films about teenagers coming of age. While Victor may think he is cool and a ladies man, by taking us into his home life, we end up having an intimate view of second generation immigrants struggling in America. But as with the excellent Real Women Have Curves, the children are fine with the new country (they just forget about where their families are from). But for the parents and in this case, grandparents, it is very hard for them to forget where they are from, and to accept Western society’s morals.

The scenes of Victor on the streets trying to find himself have been seen before in cinema. Although Victor is a lot more subtle than a lot of films, the real pleasure of the film is between the banter of Victor and his grandmother, a strong women who just cannot get her head around American life.

This film is an honest, small look at family and friends, and while not earth shattering, it is an honest, charming experience.