‘La misma luna’ Reunion Focuses on the Film’s Message and Legacy, Especially in Today’s Times

Nearly 20 years after the release of La misma luna, Eugenio Derbez reunited with director Patricia Riggen and screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos to discuss the film’s impact during the 2025 NALIP Media Summit held last week by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.

“Back then, no one in the U.S. knew Eugenio or Kate,” said Riggen. “You couldn’t get funding just because they were in the movie. No one wanted a Spanish-language film, no one wanted a film about immigration. And everything changed after that.”

La misma luna tells the story of a mother, Rosario (Kate del Castillo), who works illegally in the U.S. to provide a better life for her son, Carlitos (Adrián Alonso). After his grandmother passes away, nine-year-old Carlitos crosses the border in search of his mother. Both Rosario and Carlitos embark on separate journeys in hopes of reuniting.

As part of one of the sessions at the 2025 NALIP Media Summit, the La misma luna reunion panel centered on the film’s message and legacy—especially relevant in today’s climate.

“I think La misma luna was a revelation for a lot of people, especially Americans,” said Derbez. “I was so glad to hear it was probably the first Spanish-language film that really made a crossover.”

What began as a $1.5 million-budget film became a global phenomenon that grossed $23 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. The film’s success wasn’t just about numbers—it marked a milestone for Latino representation in Hollywood and Spanish-language cinema.

“It was really important for people, especially Americans, to understand why immigrants cross the border and risk everything to come to this country,” Derbez said.

Themes of love, abandonment, and the migrant experience in the U.S. were key talking points during the conversation. For director Riggen, telling a love story between a mother and her son carried universal meaning.

“I decided to create a romantic love story where two lovers are separated,” Riggen said. “You don’t need to be Mexican or an immigrant—anyone can relate to these emotions.”

Screenwriter Villalobos aimed to show the human side of political issues through the film—and to do so in Spanish.

“I didn’t just want to make a political film, but one where the politics felt personal and human, and people understood that, to me, immigration is not a political issue,” Villalobos said. “Immigration is about millions and millions of people who are truly making this country great.”