The 2004 film, A Day Without A Mexican, directed by Sergio Arau, is a satirical movie that shows the necessity of the Hispanic community in the United States.

In the film, a fog engulfs California, cutting off all communication beyond the state line. The fog also causes all people of Hispanic descent, including native born citizens and non-citizens as well as legal and illegal immigrants, to slowly disappear. The disappearance of such a large segment of the population causes chaos throughout California, making the non-Hispanic members of society realize the important role Hispanics play in everyday life.

The "State Senate Leader" in the film, a man who uses anti-Hispanic jargon as a crutch in his career, is especially affected by the disappearance, politically and personally. As the employer of a Hispanic housekeeper, he is shaken by the problems caused in his own life and in the lives of the rest of the population. He then makes it his duty to recover the missing population.






The movie uses satire and humor to show a real social issue. Many members of the Hispanic population make up a large part of the manual labor force, comprising an important and crucial part of the U.S. economy.

The movie also shows that not all Hispanics are Mexican, illegal immigrants, or even Spanish-speaking. The film tears down racist stereotypes and highlights the importance of this ethnic group in the U.S.

The best part? Even as it is illustrating a very controversial issue, this movie is highly entertaining.