What do you think she meant when she said “a huge black monster with giant claws”?
I loved the Mexico being traveled through, but I did not love Y Tu Mama’s characters as they did so. Tenoch and Julio were childishly cruel and immature (though perhaps that was the point, right?) but Luisa was equally off-putting, getting angry at the boys for being unable to behave like adults when the reality was that they were children. I suppose you could say that Luisa was the necessary catalyst for Tenoch and Julio’s change and growth, and that might be true. But it doesn’t mean I enjoyed watching them lose their innocence. I respected this one for a lot of things, but it didn’t make me feel good.
by Eva Holland | Source: MGM Home Entertainment DVD
20 May 2008 11:46 PM | Comments (4)
Yes, that was the point of the film. It’s hard to go into too much detail without giving the film away, but Tenoch and Julio being childish, and cruelty is an innate part of that, was because they were children; this was a film about them growing up.
Lusia being angry was part catalyst and part reaction against her own insurmountable problems, I thought.
I’ve only recently discovered this blog, and have really enjoyed the reviews I’ve read, but to seemingly criticse a film because it didn’t make you feel good seems a little unfair and, well, childish.
Hi Phil – thanks for the response.
Childish? Sure, I guess you could call it that. I’ll admit, I mostly watch movies to be entertained. Now and then I look for something more (see: When The Levees Broke, Shake Hands With The Devil, etc) but mostly for me it’s about escapism rather than edification. And since I found the characters in this movie wholly unsympathetic (yes, Tenoch and Julio are children, but I know a lot of 18 year olds who are a little more advanced in their emotional dealings) it was very hard for me to enjoy their adventure.
Unfair? I didn’t say “This movie is objectively awful” – all I did was try to give an honest explanation of why I, personally, didn’t enjoy it despite a stellar cast, great script and fantastic cinematography.
Well played, Eva. A class act response. Hard to believe that anyone could accuse you of being childish.
The movie is about growing up and being aware of the world around you, rather than yourself. It’s a beautiful film and the grand, ravishing side of Mexico that we never get to see in films is a great setting for Julio and Tenoch’s adventure. The obliviousness to the beautiful places their traveling through and the people they’re encountering vs. the boys final decision is what hits it home.
Eva, although your response was very well put, I was sad to see such as empty initial review for this glorious film.
Phil
21 May 2008
5:45 AM