|
An absolute pure cinematic experience. Two and a half hours of spell
binding camera work and story line. This is the quality stuff that is hidden
away from the mainstream cinema. Reading in the listings that it was 153
minutes long made me wary, but I can honestly say that the time flew. You have
to concentrate on the film to keep your attention through out.
|
|
My old English teacher used to say about essays, "if u are in any
doubt, begin in the middle" and this is what the director did. |
At times it
left you bewildered with seemingly un-connected plots and characters which were
left to brew in the back of your mind until recalled to much "ah ya" sighs
from the audience, which needless to say had a high proportion of Spanish
people. The pre emptive laugh before the sub titles translated on screen gave
the game away sometimes.
So What's it all about? Its complex but basically revolves around fighting
dogs, two brothers and one of their girl friends, a former extremist Mexican
revolutionary, an unfaithful magazine publisher and his bit of fluff
and two half brothers, one out to kill the other. That’s putting it simply.
Filmed in Mexico city, it gave u an instant background of the seedier
side of life in this city, with lots of night shots, crowd and traffic scenes
and some of the best visual effects and make up that I have seen in any
film, including big budget stuff from Hollywood. Take for example El Chivo
(Emilio Echevarría) and his street life appearance and facial ruggedness to
that of his end of film looks. Dramatic, I am sure you will agree, so much so
that it left me doubting if indeed it was the same person at all.
Yes the dogs!! get back to the bloody dogs.. for that is what they
were. Firstly to the animal rights loonies, it was all fake ok, the much
hyped about and threats of censorship dog fights were staged. You never
actually saw one dog biting another but the after effects of the dog fights
were so real.
|
|
The illegal dog fighting and betting took place in an empty
swimming pool, so there was lots of blood around and loosing dogs being disposed
of in the back of pick up trucks. Large amounts of money were bet by
owners and punters on their dogs fighting abilities and where money is involved
then violence follows both against the dogs and the owners and this is where
the links to the other plots and characters come in. i.e. the car crash etc..
Its very hard to do a synopsis on the film plot but features Valeria
(Goya Toledo)the 2nd time pregnant girl friend of Ramiro (Marco
Pérez)shacking up with him and his brother Octavio (Gael García Bernal). Octavio has
feelings for Valeria and sees the way he ill treats her and makes plans to raise
enough of money to take her to a different city and away from his
violent brother who has become involved in a life of crime. Apart from his
normally sedate job as check out assistant!!
Octavio and his friend use Ramiro's dog at dog fighting to get money
fast but no matter how many gifts or how much money he showers on Valeria,
she seems unimpressed, despite sexual encounters on the tumble drier! One
of the quotes of the film was Valeria to Octavio... "this is heavy shit"
The second plot concerns the 'Enchant' perfume bimbo Susanna (Vanessa
Bauche) and her goofy dog "Ritchie". What a waste of a good floor!!!
The magazine publisher runs off with her, but her career is brought to a
temporary then final end with the car crash that leaves her with
horrific injuries (for a beauty queen) :-)
The third plot is the street tramp who is the link between everyone and
his desire to get back to normal pre revolutionary days with his daughter.
He is probably the only one with a bit of sense in the film, having seen the
bad side of life and futile life of a drifter.
Quote of the film "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans"
So two out of three of us viewing thought it was an excellent film.
what did the third person miss that we saw?
Check it out, I think u wont be disappointed.
|
