The "American dream is not as it is painted".

"Emigrating is a very difficult thing, and doing it to a city like New York is even more complicated," said the filmmaker in an interview with Efe. The film opens Thursday in New York.

The filmmaker and publicist, is winner of the Golden Lion at the Cannes Advertising Festival, this would be his 21st film where he tells the odyssey of Armando Pulido Carachas, "Carachitas", a Colombian construction worker who travels to the U.S. driven by his cousin who lives in New York to try his luck in search of the "American dream".

"We all come with that desire to succeed, to look for a space. The problem is that when we arrive we realize that things are not as they are painted," says Trompetero, who emigrated to the United States after winning the top advertising prize in Cannes in 2000.

In other words, he explains that the experience of "emigrating" causes "a lot of pain" to Latinos, especially because they maintain very strong ties with their families and their country.

"But it is because of our (Latinos') ability to see things through the lens of joy, laughter and black humor that we stand on our feet," says Trompetero, who shares screenwriting credits with Alejandro Matallana.

The film's protagonist, Carlos Hurtado "Carachitas" shares the same idea.

"Only by laughing at the situation is it possible to endure such hard trials as sleeping on a subway in the middle of winter in New York or not being able to change clothes for days," says the protagonist, who filmed in sub-zero temperatures on the streets of New York.

Hurtado, who has more than 30 years of experience in Colombian television and film, assures that he found a great connection with his character.

"We decided to adapt the name because not everyone understands the meaning of 'parcero', a very Colombian word for friend or compadre," added Trompetero.

In Spain it will premiere the same Thursday with the title "Un Compadre en Nueva York" and in Peru as "Un Pata en Nueva York".