Bruno Sandi (wolvesevolve)

it's been a while since I've REALLY wanted to see a von Trier film

This is has got to be one of the best low-budget Mexican movies I've seen. The landscapes of the Tarahumara sierras were breaktaking, loved the portrayal of the towns of indigenous Tarahumaras/Rarámuri (making me think I should've gone along w/ a friend last week up to the Barranca del Cobre right though this region of Northern Mexico). Very cute story w/ the two brothers making a trip from their town in the sierras to their great-uncle's place in the barranca/canyon.

I've read a lot of negative reviews of the movie (low budget, non-actors, depressing) but I really found it enthralling the way the director was able to capture rural indigenous life (much in the way Reygadas was able to also capture rural Mexican life) and gorgeous shot of misty forests and the Raramuri culture. The camerawork, while not mind-blowing amazing, had some creative moments and overall was well done considering this was not shot by movie veterans. Yeah, there might've been a lack of chemistry between the brothers in the film (who in real life *ARE* brothers) but this is very much a reality of how some indigenous communities are...don't be expecting a coming of age sort of brotherly relationship you'd see in urban ghettos or Midwestern America or rolling hills of the Swiss Alps. The Tarahumara/Raramuri are rural, poor indigenous communities...that have language and traditions predating what we comfortable consider warm and caring on the big screen for entertainment. Another layer to this as well is the language barrier...not too many viewers will understand what's being said to be critical of the acting. Many indigenous languages have a completely different cadence that might make it difficult to listen to and really get the gist of what's being communicated. I thought all the acting was very "true to life", somewhat documentary style ala Reygadas (yeah I'm rolling my eyes too), more natural than most other movies I've seen using non-actors.

The movie has a lot going for it, for me a really fine achievement in the ultra-low-budget film, ever more so remarkable that it was made in Mexico. It's a good family film as well, highly recommended for everyone that can appreciate the simple things in life.