Film Review #7

Y Tu Mamá También

I have a confession. I love foreign films! Jeux d'Enfants, Cidade de Deus, Tropa de Elite, El Laberinto del Fauno, and Das Leben der Anderen are a few of my favorites. Needless to say, I was excited for Y Tu Mamá También. The film was made in 2001 by Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón. I didn’t know what to expect going in but any film with Diego Luna or Gael García Bernal is usually worth a watch. The talented and beautiful Maribel Verdú is a key actor as well.  By the end of this film I was hooked. The actors had range, the story was great, and the ending had a fascinating twist.

The film focuses on the friendship of Julio (García Bernal) and Tenoch (Luna). They are both young men (possibly in their teens) on the verge of adulthood. Their girlfriends have abandoned them to vacation in Italy. Boredom sets in quick. However, a chance encounter with married Luisa (Verdú) changes all of this! Upon meeting Luisa at a wedding the boys drunkenly invite her to a day at the beach – at La Boca del Cielo. Luisa initially turned Julio & Tenoch down but her husband’s recent infidelity has sparked something inside her. She calls them and agrees to go. The boys have but one problem. This beach never existed. Nonetheless, Julio & Tenoch take Luisa on a road trip that leads to fun in the sun, questioning the boundaries of friendship, sexual discovery, heartbreak, betrayal, and so much more.

García Bernal and Luna play their roles convincingly. At first, I thought both actors were typecast as two sex-crazed youths with no depth to their characters. However, the road trip allows the audience to view the opinions and transgressions of Julio & Tenoch.  Maribel Verdú is the star of this film… and for good reason. She is the catalyst for everything. Without a doubt she gives her character Luisa the most depth. She’s everything – heartbroken, angry, experienced, liberal, sexually charged, fun-loving, and a host of other sentiments. I had high expectations coming into this film and the actors definitely fulfilled them.

Narration is the most evident technique used in the film. Throughout the movie an unknown man narrates past and present events in the characters’ lives. I have to admit, all the right words were used when the narrator spoke. It allowed us to add layers to the characters that we would have never been able to. The music for the film is lively and reminiscent of Mexican and American popular culture. This is not uncommon in any movie where a road trip is present. The up close shots were extremely well done and helped to convey the grittiness that sex has sometimes. I have no doubt that this unashamed depiction of sex caused tension within the Motion Picture Association of America.

If I had to give you one decisive factor for viewing Y Tu Mamá También I would say, “Go for the performances of the actors!” I guarantee your initial feelings for the characters will change as the movie progresses. As I mentioned before, much depth is added as we learn about the lives of each character. Maribel Verdú’s role was my personal favorite. This film does not redefine the genre but it does deserve to sit near the top in my opinion. The script is incredibly well written and touches on a variety of topics.

8.5 out of 10