This movie is presented in four acts. The first three acts all begin with the exact same scene and then each act tells the story of one of three people in the social group of those in the opening scene. The final act takes up at the time where the first three acts end. This provides an interesting plot structure, but engages only if the stories are interesting and each individual story illuminates the others, which I did not find to be the case.
The first story is that of Rutilio, the owner of a small bar where the opening scene takes place. Rutilio is in his 60s and passion has definitely gone out of his marriage. In one scene Rutilio castigates his son Chava for hanging around with his male friend Abel to the extent that it may appear that he is queer. But the next thing we know Rutilio is taking up with a young male sales clerk. This seems to be something of a reverse "homosexual cure" and is about as believable.
The second story is about Alma, a sexy young woman who is involved with Abel. The first half of Alma's story is the only part of the movie that engaged me - the development of her relationship with Abel is touching. But Abel so loves Alma that he goes to the U.S. to make money with the idea he will come back to marry her. Shortly after Abel's departure Alma takes up with a handsome stranger, only to discover that he is a high-class pimp. When she finds this out she tells him to get lost in the strongest terms. But then she abruptly behaves in an unexpected and unbelievable manner by returning to the pimp and asking for work.
The third story is about Susanita, a plain, middle-aged spinster who is financially well off but sexually frustrated. The story of Susanita's relationship with Güicho, a young bartender in Rutilio's bar, never struck a believable note for me. Güicho was after her money and Susanita was starved for love, but the mismatch was just too great to ever believe in their relationship and marriage.
The final act will dismay all but the most ardent lovers of high melodrama.
"Lawless Heart" has an almost identical plot structure, but is far more artful in the way it exploits it.
This movie advertises itself as the most highly awarded of all Mexican movies. I notice that most of its awards come from Latin American countries, so I figure that awards are easily come by there or this type of film has a particular appeal to those cultures. But, after having seen "Y tu mamá también" and "Amores Perros" I had hoped for more.
The first story is that of Rutilio, the owner of a small bar where the opening scene takes place. Rutilio is in his 60s and passion has definitely gone out of his marriage. In one scene Rutilio castigates his son Chava for hanging around with his male friend Abel to the extent that it may appear that he is queer. But the next thing we know Rutilio is taking up with a young male sales clerk. This seems to be something of a reverse "homosexual cure" and is about as believable.
The second story is about Alma, a sexy young woman who is involved with Abel. The first half of Alma's story is the only part of the movie that engaged me - the development of her relationship with Abel is touching. But Abel so loves Alma that he goes to the U.S. to make money with the idea he will come back to marry her. Shortly after Abel's departure Alma takes up with a handsome stranger, only to discover that he is a high-class pimp. When she finds this out she tells him to get lost in the strongest terms. But then she abruptly behaves in an unexpected and unbelievable manner by returning to the pimp and asking for work.
The third story is about Susanita, a plain, middle-aged spinster who is financially well off but sexually frustrated. The story of Susanita's relationship with Güicho, a young bartender in Rutilio's bar, never struck a believable note for me. Güicho was after her money and Susanita was starved for love, but the mismatch was just too great to ever believe in their relationship and marriage.
The final act will dismay all but the most ardent lovers of high melodrama.
"Lawless Heart" has an almost identical plot structure, but is far more artful in the way it exploits it.
This movie advertises itself as the most highly awarded of all Mexican movies. I notice that most of its awards come from Latin American countries, so I figure that awards are easily come by there or this type of film has a particular appeal to those cultures. But, after having seen "Y tu mamá también" and "Amores Perros" I had hoped for more.