This film is hard to follow to my untrained eyes in black and white cinema. Not that I haven't seen many black and white movies, but this story, in typical Buñuel fashion, jumps seamlessly back and forth between characters in the present, and close and distant past. Making it hard to follow, but nonetheless, I was able to appreciate it and enjoyed both the rural Mexico, as well as the folk culture.
The story begins with a naive toast between two men, one who just became a parent, and the other, the godfather of the child. As the celebration and tequilas start flowing, both men talk about their future, families and friendship. When the big-mouthed godfather jokingly suggests sexual interaction with the mother of his godson, the other man, the husband, gets furious and violently demands respect or otherwise. The godfather, another short-fused macho, takes that to the extreme and in return, says he can say whatever he can say. After this, the recent parent pulls out his knife and shoves it in the godfather's belly. This becoming the beginning of the three generation tragedy that was about to unravel in this Mexican northern town of machos.
What follows is the narration from a doctor, the then child given birth in the tragic ceremony. The grandson of the killer, is a doctor now prostrate in a special stretcher treating his disease that prevents him from walking.
This film tells the story of my home country. Fully it reflects its culture, where a man is expected to prove his manhood through any means.
It sadly reminded me of why Mexico is considered one of the most violent countries in the world. Where narcos and government alike revert to violence in a never ending cycle of proving yourself. Where the value of a human life is no more valuable than cattle, land or respect in itself.
A must see to understand why rivalries exist in Mexico, and to understand why grassroots measures work best than any other foreign facts.
The story begins with a naive toast between two men, one who just became a parent, and the other, the godfather of the child. As the celebration and tequilas start flowing, both men talk about their future, families and friendship. When the big-mouthed godfather jokingly suggests sexual interaction with the mother of his godson, the other man, the husband, gets furious and violently demands respect or otherwise. The godfather, another short-fused macho, takes that to the extreme and in return, says he can say whatever he can say. After this, the recent parent pulls out his knife and shoves it in the godfather's belly. This becoming the beginning of the three generation tragedy that was about to unravel in this Mexican northern town of machos.
What follows is the narration from a doctor, the then child given birth in the tragic ceremony. The grandson of the killer, is a doctor now prostrate in a special stretcher treating his disease that prevents him from walking.
This film tells the story of my home country. Fully it reflects its culture, where a man is expected to prove his manhood through any means.
It sadly reminded me of why Mexico is considered one of the most violent countries in the world. Where narcos and government alike revert to violence in a never ending cycle of proving yourself. Where the value of a human life is no more valuable than cattle, land or respect in itself.
A must see to understand why rivalries exist in Mexico, and to understand why grassroots measures work best than any other foreign facts.