Carlitos, the young boy protagonist of La Misma Luna, spends the entirety of the script trying to get from his small Mexican hometown to his mother in Los Angeles. The story — in every way — is about crossing thresholds and borders.

In this moment, to reunite with his mom, Carlitos first has to cross the street. Mother and son spot each other, but there is thematic poetry in not seeing the two characters hug tearfully, but rather seeing them wait to cross.