I somehow doubt this was a film I'd have otherwise come across - and I can assure you that even if I had, there would have been no chance of me watching it. It's going to be bleak, isn't it?
Hmmm - it's not a barrel of laughs. We follow Rita and her daughter Ana as they try to live as normal a life as possible under somewhat trying circumstances. Not only do they live in a village so remote I can't even comprehend it, they also have men from the cartels coming to the village on a frequent basis to steal girls - just because they can. And well, some stuff happens - but not an awful lot, if I'm being honest. And then we jump forward some years (six?) and well, some more stuff happens with a more grown-up theme - but not an awful lot, it I'm being honest. Except at the very end, where all sorts happens - I didn't understand all of it, but I think it's not too spoiler-y to say that it doesn't end on the most optimistic of notes. Bizarrely, Wikipedia states "the movie closes with a travel scene" - which is true, I guess, but not exactly the whole point to it.
The nothingness is quite a heartfelt and poetic nothingness though, with the children just trying to enjoy their childhood but not really being able to because of the whole environment. And the contrast is provided well with the cartels being represented by jeeps (or even just the sound of jeeps) and referred to as "they" - the idea of something so sinister being so abstract works well. And the threat is pretty abstract as well - people are just "taken", with no need for details. And, as if that's not bad enough, there's also the government spraying the fields (and often the people) with pesticide - life is certainly not easy!
It's well acted - Ana is played by Ana Cristina Ordóñez González and Marya Membreño with her mother played by Mayra Batalla and they all do an excellent job at conveying a wide range of emotions, but always undercut by fear. Camila Gaal/Alejandra Camacho and Blanca Itzel Pérez Paula/Giselle Barrera Sánchez also do a good job as Ana's friends, Paula and Maria, with them all playing games designed to keep reality at bay.
It's written and directed by Tatiana Huezo (based on a book by the very unMexican sounding Jennifer Clement) and I'd have to say it's all very well filmed. There are some amazing shots (and sounds) of nature and also of the mining operation. There are also some nice surreal touches throughout the film as well including cows lying on beds, cows on fire and a scorpion in a plastic bottle. Another scene that stood out for me is a particularly lovely one where Ana is having her hair cut to hide like a boy to hide her from unwanted attention and she doesn't understand why and the tears flow freely - beautifully shot and acted. The other point to consider is that I expect there were plenty of unsavoury people that didn't want this film to be made, so that must have added to the difficulties - and it really is a very remote location as well.
This is an important film, telling a story I wasn't aware of and it does so in an effective and often beautiful way. Unfortunately, for the most part, it doesn't exactly tell it in an interesting way - most of the message could have been got across in about 15 minutes. And whilst I agree this wouldn't exactly make for the best film ever, I do feel there was probably more context that could have been explored - for example, Ana's dad is in America and there are other local towns that have made efforts to resist the cartels, and it would have been interesting to know a bit more on those fronts (but I guess that would have cost more to shoot).
So it's a partial recommendation from me - I'm pleased to have learned (a little bit) about the situation and it's a very worthy film, but I don't think it's a great film, even if it is well thought out and often beautiful.
Hmmm - it's not a barrel of laughs. We follow Rita and her daughter Ana as they try to live as normal a life as possible under somewhat trying circumstances. Not only do they live in a village so remote I can't even comprehend it, they also have men from the cartels coming to the village on a frequent basis to steal girls - just because they can. And well, some stuff happens - but not an awful lot, if I'm being honest. And then we jump forward some years (six?) and well, some more stuff happens with a more grown-up theme - but not an awful lot, it I'm being honest. Except at the very end, where all sorts happens - I didn't understand all of it, but I think it's not too spoiler-y to say that it doesn't end on the most optimistic of notes. Bizarrely, Wikipedia states "the movie closes with a travel scene" - which is true, I guess, but not exactly the whole point to it.
The nothingness is quite a heartfelt and poetic nothingness though, with the children just trying to enjoy their childhood but not really being able to because of the whole environment. And the contrast is provided well with the cartels being represented by jeeps (or even just the sound of jeeps) and referred to as "they" - the idea of something so sinister being so abstract works well. And the threat is pretty abstract as well - people are just "taken", with no need for details. And, as if that's not bad enough, there's also the government spraying the fields (and often the people) with pesticide - life is certainly not easy!
It's well acted - Ana is played by Ana Cristina Ordóñez González and Marya Membreño with her mother played by Mayra Batalla and they all do an excellent job at conveying a wide range of emotions, but always undercut by fear. Camila Gaal/Alejandra Camacho and Blanca Itzel Pérez Paula/Giselle Barrera Sánchez also do a good job as Ana's friends, Paula and Maria, with them all playing games designed to keep reality at bay.
It's written and directed by Tatiana Huezo (based on a book by the very unMexican sounding Jennifer Clement) and I'd have to say it's all very well filmed. There are some amazing shots (and sounds) of nature and also of the mining operation. There are also some nice surreal touches throughout the film as well including cows lying on beds, cows on fire and a scorpion in a plastic bottle. Another scene that stood out for me is a particularly lovely one where Ana is having her hair cut to hide like a boy to hide her from unwanted attention and she doesn't understand why and the tears flow freely - beautifully shot and acted. The other point to consider is that I expect there were plenty of unsavoury people that didn't want this film to be made, so that must have added to the difficulties - and it really is a very remote location as well.
This is an important film, telling a story I wasn't aware of and it does so in an effective and often beautiful way. Unfortunately, for the most part, it doesn't exactly tell it in an interesting way - most of the message could have been got across in about 15 minutes. And whilst I agree this wouldn't exactly make for the best film ever, I do feel there was probably more context that could have been explored - for example, Ana's dad is in America and there are other local towns that have made efforts to resist the cartels, and it would have been interesting to know a bit more on those fronts (but I guess that would have cost more to shoot).
So it's a partial recommendation from me - I'm pleased to have learned (a little bit) about the situation and it's a very worthy film, but I don't think it's a great film, even if it is well thought out and often beautiful.