Sangre

I did find the earlier reader review by someone from Mexico very useful as this film, while quite good, needed the context that the viewer gave it. There is no sense in repeating what was said. I was born within yards of the Mexican border, in Southwestern Arizona along the Colorado River, and this film reminded me of San Luis, R.C., where i once covered a murder trial for the Yuma Daily Sun. Fortunately, the accused man, a U.S. born guy of Mexican origin, was acquitted thanks to a lot of footwork all around. This film describes plainly the bleak existence for many people down in Mexico, and it does not polish the legend of Happy Cheerful People slapping backs with funny accents. It has no stereotypes of any kind. Also, it was good to see a Mexican film not set in Mexico City. I understand the director is only 29 years old. Do not expect any fables in this film. In that sense it is really a slice of life and also echos the architectural concept of Less is More....

A brave film that takes Mexican cinema in a new way of telling stories. Without professional actors, with low budget, is a fresh and critical sight of the Mexican quotidian reality of a middle class couple, Cirilo Recio and Claudia Orozco. She works in a pizzeria and he is guardian of a public building. T.V. soap operas, mechanical sex are their every day life, interrupted by the unexpected presence of Cirilo's daughter who gives a twist to the story. Their human values are exposes through a great cinematography by Alex Fenton, with a new way of seeing the reality. The price given in Cannes in "Une certain regard", (Fipresci) and in the Thessalonica film fest by Vittoiro Storaro -as president of the jury- are testimony of the importance of the film particularly for the Mexican cinema, nevertheless it was produced 100% with European funds. Amat Escalante, who worked as assistant to Carlos Reygadas (co producer of Sangre) in Battle in heaven, is certainly one of the new leaden talents.

Technically it is a very good movie, the cinematography is excellent, the camera shots were carefully designed, the sound is top notch. It also succeeds in portraying the life of a medium-low class Mexican couple. And in my opinion the main character's performance as a dull individual with a dull existence is great.

The problem is that not much happens. The same story could've been told efficiently in 20 minutes (I don't see the point in investing 3 to 4 minutes of film time in watching the wife getting the table ready for breakfast and frying a couple of eggs). It has interesting elements but as a piece of cinema is way too slow and sometimes boring.

Terribly slow and poorly acted, boring from start to finish, something unexpected comes up, but it fails to rescue a boring movie. Apparently they didn't use professional actors and it shows all the time.

I was very surprised by this movie. It takes risks and shows something that I have never seen in a Mexican movie before. You can tell the director feels his country is going to the garbage and maybe is becoming just a disposable thing, like food from Mcdonalds ( that the characters seem to love to eat so much here). Sometimes it's hard for people to see themselves on screen, and they will maybe hate the movie most people. But for me it works to stimulate, and it was also very entertaining. I am very exited about these new movies with something new to say and that step away from the typical Mexican subject of violence and "hot" Latin melodrama. Like Jean-Claude Carrière said when he mentioned SANGRE in his conference at FICCO in Mexico City: "Welcome to the rebirth of Mexican cinema".