DRAMA/MEX

a film review by Malik Isasis











“THE MEXICANS ARE COMING! THE MEXICANS ARE COMING!” and they’re bringing their leprosy with them, and other forms of exotic diseases. This is what CNN’s Lou Dobbs and Fox News would have you believe. There has been an endless negative narrative propagated against Mexicans by the Republicans and their political operatives in the corporate media for the past two election cycles now.

Mexicans are seen as the servant class —the stevedores for America. This narrow view is dehumanizing, but this is what the political strategists do best, right? Tap into America’s xenophobia?

Did you know that Bill Gates was quietly dethroned as the world’s richest man? That title now belongs to Carlos Slim Helu, a Mexican.

Sure Mexico is an oligarchy that has created two Mexicos: a very rich one and a very poor one, with virtually no middle class, but isn’t that where we are headed?

In the last ten years there has been a Mexican new wave in cinema from the likes of Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Children of Men), Guillermo del Toro's (Hellboy, The Devil’s Backbone & Pan's Labyrinth), and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams & Babel) and now witness the rise of Gerardo Naranjo, the director and writer of Drama/Mex, a character-driven drama about the interconnectedness of a few of Acapulco’s residents.

This is an ensemble piece, with two story strands. The first story strand follows ex lovers Chano (Emilio Vsaldes) and Fernanda (Diana Garcia). Chano, a handsome but emotionally aloof loser had left Fernanda without notice and adding insult to injury, had stole money from her father. Fernanda, stunning with pillowy lips, and bed-side almond-shaped eyes is an heiress to her father’s hotel chain, and is still in love with Chano.

Chano has shown up after six months and the movie opens with Fernanda and Chano bickering in a restaurant. Fernanda resistant to Chano’s romantic advancements is strong, a little too strong, almost cartoonish, which is why Chano sees right through her act. He follows her back to her house, where he rapes her. It starts out as rape, until she goes along with it, opening her heart up once again to Chano. The scene no less is disturbing, and obviously written by a man.

The second story strand follows Jamie (Fernando Becerril) a burnt out business man who may or may not have had sexual indiscretions with his young adult daughter. Whatever, his indiscretions were, he is haunted by them and steals the payroll deposit of his company and leaves his family to rent a room on the beach to paint the hotel wall with his brains.

While contemplating his death with a gun in his mouth, a hand opens the door to take his wallet with the stolen payroll money. Tigrillo (Miriana Moro) a sassy teenager notices Jaime staring at himself in the mirror with a gun in his mouth. She takes the wallet and closes the door.

Tigrillo, a run away has joined some of her friends and is trying her hand at prostitution. Just earlier before stealing Jamie’s wallet, she was trying to convince him of a hand job. He declined. He watches and laughs at her attempts to seduce men on the beach. Eventually he feels sorry for her and takes her out to lunch, rather, she demands it. It is at this point that the two story strands cross-pollinate, as the characters cross paths on the beach.

My first impression of the film was, “What have I gotten myself into?” Those feelings quickly dissipated however, as the characters became realized. Tigrillo and Jaime both emotional train wrecks become functional together. Strangely, Jaime who’s old enough to be Tigrillo’s grandfather and Tigrillo have good chemistry and I found myself rooting for their success. But as train wrecks go, it is a matter of time before the train tracks run out.

Drama/Mex was Executive Produced by Mexican actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, both of whom starred in
Y Tu Mamma Tambian. It is easy to see why Bernal and Luna would be interested in the Drama/Mex script, it is reminiscent of both international hits Y Tu Mamma Tambian and Amores Perros.

The Mexicans are Coming!

Film is a powerful language. It is also a cultural ambassador. It is why American culture is so popular around the world.

Drama/Mex may have a horrific title, but the film continues the Mexican new wave. In the past ten years some of the best filmmaking has come out of Mexico, revealing that Mexicans are not just border-jumping stevedores, but are people with dreams, ambition, love, lost and share the same complicated lives as we do. Not all Mexicans crave to cross the border into “Yankeeland.”

The Mexicans are coming, and I suggest you sit back and enjoy what they have to say.


Grade: A

PIMP THIS |