With all due respect, I don't see that the senior miners are trying to help him get out. instead they sympathize, but "that's life". Rather Braulio (I believe is his name) shift supervisor takes 14 year old Basilio, who trusts him (as does Basilio's mother) to take of him into the very depths of the mine. this is where temperatures are high, oxygen is rare and the drilling releases fills the cavern with dust. Basilio isn't given a mask for his mouth or eyes nor is he given any warning of the conditions. It's pure cruelty in the name of finding out what he is made of. He passes Braulio's "test" -- Basilio is brave enough to be tutored into becoming a drill master -- certainly the fastest way to work oneself to death down there.
It's not black and white, but after those last scenes, I could no longer believe that the elder miners would act as substitute fathers for Basilio. No, he was still 14 with no father to protect him, to look out for him. The saddest part of all this, is Basilio would make any parent proud, but despite all virtues and maturity he is still very vulnerable to exploitation by his fellow miners and from the economic system that has failed to protect him.
With all your respect, in your summary you refer to them as an Indian family, the propper term is Indigenous family.
Thank you,
Alfred
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