Bandidas (2006)

Directors:

Joachim Rønning
Espen Sandberg

Writers (WGA):

Luc Besson (written by) &
Robert Mark Kamen (written by)

Release Date:

18 January 2006 (Belgium)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Western

Tagline:

Buscadas...vivas o muertas. (Wanted...alive or dead.)

Plot:

In turn-of-the-century Mexico, two very different women become a bank-robbing duo in an effort to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Farmer | Mexico | Money | Gun

Cast

Penélope Cruz	...	Maria Alvarez
Salma Hayek	...	Sara Sandoval
Steve Zahn	...	Quentin
Dwight Yoakam	...	Tyler Jackson
Denis Arndt	...	Ashe
Audra Blaser	...	Clarissa Ashe
Sam Shepard	...	Bill Buck
Ismael 'East' Carlo	...	Don Diego
Gary Cervantes	...	Pedro (as Carlos Cervantes)
José María Negri	...	Padre Pablo
Lenny Zundel	...	Bernardo
Edgar Vivar	...	Expl. Bank Manager
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Brujo
Filiberto Estrella	...	Midget
Yomo Tlazotlalli	...	Gordo (as Yomo Tlazotlally)

Also Known As:

Bandidas (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality, nudity and violence.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

France | Mexico | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | UK:12A | Finland:K-11 | Italy:T | Brazil:12 | South Korea:12 | Hungary:14 | Germany:6 (f) | Argentina:13 | Iceland:10 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42392) | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

Originally set for a wide US theatrical release in late 2005 and then early 2006; the film was finally given a 22 September 2006 date and was an exclusive Cinema Latino Theatres chain release.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Sara and Quentin investigate a bank posing as a couple, Sara is mourning her late mother. Later while arguing with Maria about kissing, she said she was "a widow in mourning"

Quotes:

Tyler Jackson: Your gold. Or, rather, should I say, my gold.
Governor: I'm not following you.
Tyler Jackson: No, sir, you're not.
[Pushing the Governor out of the train]

With gorgeous vistas, "Bandidas" is a fun to watch!

"Bandidas" is set during the Mexican Revolution…

Cruz stars as María Alvarez, a gun-happy superstitious peasant who learns that her land has been sold to Tyler Jackson (Dwight Yoakam) by a corrupt Mexican banker Don Diego Sandoval (Ismael 'East' Carlo) until some higher authority intercedes…

María always knew what she wants and she always knew she feels, however when she dared to accuse Don Carlos as a corrupt and a thief, as a result of that her father is wounded in his ranch and his house is burned to the ground…

Sara Sandoval (Salma Hayek), who has been away at school in Europe for ten years, has left as a girl and came home as a woman…The only problem of Don Diego is now to convince her to stay… But Sandoval is poisoned following a real estate agreement with the avaricious Jackson…

So the two girls—joined by destiny—decide to be trained by Sam Shepard, to shoot well and to learn the rules of robbing banks… So they teamed up to get the people back on their land, and to come up with a plan, something that will benefit the people and destroy these murderers…

But after Quentin Cooke (Steve Zahn) an expert from New York City is kidnapped by the two she-monsters, the ruthless Jackson brought in more reinforcements, real killers hunting the two girls like animals… So every bank was seen more guarded now… Sara saw herself desperate, running out of ideas… Inside of herself she knew that she was raised to be a spoiled lady, not a renegade…

Penélope and Salma have great chemistry, and they are totally adorable together… The film has many memorable moments: the church catfight; the horse climbing a ladder; the two beauties in prostitute red cloth; Hayek getting off her chest her bloody corset which has been squeezing her gut her whole life; Salma teaching Penélope how to kiss a man right and how to capture that nuance…