Days of Cinema

La Santa Muerte (2007)
Country: Mexico
Director: Paco del Toro

I can't believe we're making films so empty and pretentious. In my last review I highlighted the 'fresh' factor of Begne's "Dos Abrazos" (Two Love Stories), a film that did not follow the tradition implied by Guillermo Arriaga of interconnecting stories. Well guess what? Paco Del Toro seems to have noticed that too. In La Santa Muerte, his third and worst film yet, he tells three stories in which the characters' faith is placed on a particular Mexican saint, the saint death. Del Toro really knows how to manipulate not only its actors, but also its distributors. I understand why Niñas Mal and Kilometro 31 get hundreds of copies into theatres, but how can this film possibly get almost 300 theatres? It is an ugly film; it tries to be depressing and gives sermon after sermon, something very typical with this director. I would love to be given the opportunity of making this idea into a fiction film; I think it is such an interesting character. As I was looking around me, I noticed that the theatre was almost full (ugh), and I was shocked to see that some people were even shocked and emotional. I seriously don't get this director, and it is not because of his religious beliefs (my parents are both Christian), is just that he is the kind of storyteller that starts digging and digging until he gets to the areas of discrimination and stupidity. 

Dos Abrazos (2007)
Country: Mexico
Director: Enrique Begne

A tender and sweet effort by breakthrough director Enrique Begne. Graduated from CCC (Mexico's best film school), he is a very promising helmer. Even though the film is not innovative at all and we get the feeling we've been there already, it is refreshing to see an ensemble piece is so carefully crafted that it never falls into mediocre interlocking stories, something so typical by Mexican filmmakers nowadays. The film consists of 2 pieces, and they are not related at all physically, only spiritually. Techs are fine, the music is probably the highlight of the film, performances wise goes from good (Maya Zapata, Giovanni Florido) to great (Ximena Sarinana) to exemplary (Jorge Zarate). The film won best first feature at the Tribeca Film Festival this year.

Country: Mexico
Director: Julian Hernandez

An affecting minimalist film, almost silent. I wasn't impressed with his debut film as everyone seemed to be, I found it pretentious and manipulative. My expectations for this film were very low, but I decided to give it a chance since it was playing at the Morelia film festival. Immediately Hernandez introduces his audience to his own personal world. One that is full of provocative thoughts, and most importantly Hernandez reflects that awful reality of loneliness. There is that deep fight between the three characters and the music is perfectly presented to us. At moments Broken Sky seems to be a very long ballad. As great as the film was, it was too long. I would've cut at least 20 minutes of the film. Techs are near perfect, except for the rude editing. The cinematography and music are the standouts of the film, performances are fine. 

Guillermo Arriaga, an okay novel writer that sensacionalizes everything he can touch. His idea of making films is not very far from what he does as a writer. The raves of his earlier work in both books and film, have contributed to his mega ego. He showed some talent in Amores Perros and 21 Grams, but still, his screenplays weren't necessarily good. Later, he ruined The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and was the weakest element to hideous Babel. Now, he gives a new director the chance of directing one of his most acclaimed novels. The result becomes an ugly-looking mess, where the only thing worthy is the beauty of Liz Guillardo, and the beautiful score by The Mars Volta,which in my opinion is one of the scores in recent mexican movies. Performances are irregular, but they did what they could, the screenplay and directing didn't do much to help them.

As I was organizing my list of the film I've seen so far this year, I started to choose the film I would love to write about. And no other film came to my mind, but "The Violin." A beautifully lensed pic that has been the most awarded Mexican feature since Amores Perros. At first, I was reluctant to see it, I have declared myself anti-mexican movie goer. A very arrogant action from my part, but in those moments the film industry of my country was depressing, mediocre, there was no light at all. People started talking about Babel, and I hate it, later on came Pan's Labyrinth, and I loved it, I came to the conclusion that maybe Mexico does in fact produce quality films, but where should I look for them. Later on, people starting talking about this film, about the actor, everyone raved it, but I wasn't excited about it, the plot seemed so minimal. When I walked out of the theatre I finally knew what all the fuss was about, it truly is one of the best contemporary films from Latin America. It is so gentle and sublime, I seriously doubt any other Mexican film will be able to capture so much beauty and reality than what Francisco Vargas has accomplished. Angel Tavira is brilliant, an iconic performance for the ages. The best film I've seen so far, wait, not really, Inland Empire is the best film of the year, no doubt about it, in fact, it Lynch's film is probably one of the best films in years.