User Reviews

The greatest movies center their attention in the development of one or two characters, create a dialogue that reels us into the lives of these characters and then take us on a vicarious adventure. That's not real life, we pass people day after day; ordinary people experiencing extraordinary events that challenge their humanity, but because we do not have a Hollywood production team giving us a peephole into their souls, we generally don't bother to care. This movie showed me what is presumably seen everyday in a small all too common neighborhood in Mexico, and very frankly at its end asked me to care. It was gritty, but I did end up caring because as exaggerated as the circumstances seemed, they likely are not. The unabashed sex and prevalence was really disturbing. Men procuring the services of the neighborhood whore, a young woman whom they likely watched grow up, having sex with her regardless of whether children are present to hear or watch. The movie hinted at incest. There was violence. Some themes aren't approached with the gravity that they merit and that's really where his film falls short. It kind of provides a very straightforward account almost not wanting to deal with the same issues it is trying to bring to light. Pleas to the viewers are made in the end stating that we are all part of this same poverty, this is our Mexico. It's not for the faint of heart, it's a throwback to the cinematic style of movies from the 70's, kind of outlandish and weird, but if you like that and can stomach the themes, you'll enjoy this movie.