To this day, I hate anyone who says this was a bad film. Beautifully conceived, this film really captured the spirit of basic filmmaking, and how the central character inspired the masses. From the first time we meet Olmos, to the infamous `Calculus' line by Lou Diamond Phillips, to the rather startling ending, we see a side of life which is rarely portrayed in most films. Phillips and Olmos really carried this film, simply due to their off kilter relationship which was spawned during the film. One of the most poignant scenes in the film is when Olmos is giving Phillips all of his books, trying to help the guy maintain a rep as well as stay focused on his class work. An inspiring film to say the least, more movies about Mexican American life should be made in order to tap into the rather diverse range of beliefs and traditions.