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La demora (2012)
Struggle leads to despair...
Rodrigo Plá's third feature narrates the story about a single mother's struggle to support her three children and her elderly father who suffers increasing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The narrative grows steadily, slowly revealing a series of tense circumstances which make the protagonist, María, come to feel tired and desperate about her difficult struggles to take care of her household, her children and her father, all by herself. Then, after a failed attempt to intern her father at a rest house for elders and her sister's reluctance to help with the situation, her despair climaxes into an impulsive action: she abandons her father, leaving him out all alone on a public street.
The gravity of the situation increases María's anxiety and leads her on an anguished quest to find him. But while her burdens seem hopeless, one might not think her behavior is justified enough. Her decision to find a resolution through an easy and uncaring way out only brings about worse consequences and more desperation at the climax of the film. For such a reason, I do not sympathize with her suffering towards the end. Marías own mistaken actions bring about her own detrimental consequences. Instead, one does sympathize with her father, Agustin, an old man who now lives with dying memories.
This is a decent slice of life drama, probably influenced by European Cinema and similar styles. The stillness of its shots and passivity of its storytelling add to the narrative's dramatic buildup. Plá is still a very good director, concentrating on telling a dramatic story with engaging characters and tense atmospheres.
7 out of 10.
Sleep Dealer (2008)
Great Vision not Great Story
Rarely does science fiction cinema depict the future of the 'third world', if at all. Alex Rivera's film, primarily set in the state of Oaxaca and the city of Tijuana, Mexico, certainly proves originality in its premise and vision of the future. But while Sleep Dealer's inventive depiction of the future of human labor, immigration and transnational borders is extremely interesting and thought provoking, Rivera fails to achieve engaging storytelling. The plot feels flat and characters seem one dimensional. Both actors remain unconnected with each other and the story. Their actions, at times, seem unmotivated and contradictory. I understand how this film could have been so much more, unfortunately it wasn't. Aside from director Rivera's critique on social and political progress, the story fails to break through.
Frankly, I admire Rivera more for his social, political and progressive vision rather than for his cinematic skills. The film, in the end, feels rough around the edges and leaves a bit to be desired
But still a good effort from a first time director, especially for such an ambitious project.
6 out of 10.
La Zona (2007)
Thrilling Narrative, Powerful Critique
OK. So I just saw La Zona @ SFIFF, and I must say... BRAVO!! Another big success for Mexican cinema, and well earned indeed. Rodrigo Pla's first feature delivers a harsh social and political critique about Mexican social classes and fundamental morality within a gripping and thrilling narrative.
As another Mexican film about social contrasts, I must say, it proves originality. La Zona (or The Zone) delves further into character development and the consequences of moral judgment. Pla's film remains interesting because it touches upon a broader universal theme: the human struggle to choose between right and wrong. With an engaging narrative, inventive setting and well developed character arcs, La Zona gets its point across, and makes us think
This film delivers recurring themes in Mexican cinema but with a much fresher and more creative perspective, not to mention exciting
Much 'props' to Villanueva's enthralling cinematography and to Zaragoza's performance as the chief of police
8 out of 10. I really liked it.