Yesterday Flora and I went to see A Day Without A Mexican, a super low-budget mockumentary based on the premise, "What if one day everyone in California woke up and all the Mexicans were gone?" Basically, pandemonium ensues. There's a run of fruits and vegetables -- there's a great interview with a restauranteur who says, "I had to go to people I bought cocaine from in the 70s to get fresh tomatoes." The Border Patrol, with nothing to do, is reduced to playing video games such as "Coyotes and Mexicans." There are some funny riffs on the distinction between Mexican and Latino, including one guy who says, "Salvadorans, Hondurans, they're all from south of the border, so they're all Mexican." and a graphic pops up that reads, "Actually, there are 40 countries south of the border."

It's a great idea, but the execution was a little off -- it dragged a bit, and the acting wasn't that great. Also, the treatment of the serious themes was quite heavy-handed. After getting home I tried to find out why I hadn't been able to find a review in the Times, and discovered this map, which is amusing since one of the premises of the movie is that when the Mexicans disappear a thick fog descends upon the state's borders and all communication with the rest of the country is cut off.

An angle I'd like to see is what the rest of the country would think if all communication with California were cut off. Or better yet, what if California seceded?