La Ley de Herodes (Herod's Law) (2000)
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68% of critics liked it
(25 reviews) -
87% of users liked it
(2,127 ratings)
Luis Estrada directs this groundbreaking and extremely controversial satire about Mexico's long-ruling political party, the PRI. Set in the late 1940s in the remote, thoroughly backwards village of San Pedro de los Saguaros, the film focuses on Vargas (Damian Alcazar), a petty politician who had… More Luis Estrada directs this groundbreaking and extremely controversial satire about Mexico's long-ruling political party, the PRI. Set in the late 1940s in the remote, thoroughly backwards village of San Pedro de los Saguaros, the film focuses on Vargas (Damian Alcazar), a petty politician who had the dubious honor of being appointed town mayor after his predecessor was decapitated for corruption by an angry mob. At first, he tries to balance the books and to bring the 20th century to the backwaters. When he is visited by slick PRI politico Lopez (Pedro Armendariz), however, he learns the officially sanctioned way of running the town: at gunpoint while pilfering the bank vaults. Soon Vargas becomes a power-mad despot, more than willing to steal or kill to further his goals. Though his PRI bosses try to reign him in, the lynch mob soon appears to be the inevitable end of Vargas' political career. The first film to criticize the PRI by name, Estrada's bitter farce savages the ruling party, the church and U.S. intervention. Cult director Alex Cox plays a small role as a seedy gringo. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Directed By
- Luis Estrada
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 20, 2000 Wide
- Studio
- Venevision International Films
Critic Reviews
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Matt Weitz, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Herod's Law is beautifully photographed, its imagery glazed with a sepia patina that suggests dust and neglect.
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Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Alczar, who won the Mexican Oscar for his performance, brings a lot of energy to the role, but it's not enough to counterbalance the film's heavy-handed predictability.
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Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle
Alcazar makes a deft transition from idiot to maniac, serving as an anchor for the broad performances around him.
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Ted Fry, Seattle Times
Accomplished and delightfully subversive.
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Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Funny, evocatively photographed, and vibrantly acted salvo.
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Cast
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Damián Alcázar
as Juan Vargas
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Pedro Armendariz Jr.
as Lopez
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Delia Casanova
as Rosa
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Juan Carlos Colombo
as Ramirez
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Alex Cox
as Gringo
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Guillermo Gil
as Priest
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Ernesto Gomez Cruz
as Governor
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Leticia Huijara
as Gloria
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Luis de Icaza
as Alfredo Garcia
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Eduardo López Rojas
as Doctor
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Manuel Ojeda
as Barman
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Salvador Sanchez
as Pek
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Evangelina Sosa
as Perlita
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Isela Vega
as Dona Lupe
