Absolutely Fantastic

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Dona Herlinda wants one thing from her son--a grandchild. Problem is he's gay and in love with another man. Dona invites the man into her house...as long as her son gets married and gives her a child. She doesn't know he's gay...or does she? This was quietly released in the US in the 1985. It played only at one small art house cinema in Boston. I saw it back then and found it amusing. The sexual content is very subtle--aside from a few kisses and some casual full frontal male nudity we don't see anything. Also all out sexual activities are off camera. The acting is good, the complications are interesting and the final shot on Dona tells you everything you need to know. Hard to find but pleasant.

Overlook the technical amateurism (sound especially) and some wooden acting. The storyline is original and well thought out. The enigmatic duplicity of Dona Herlinda is constant throughout the film, and a joy to watch. We're pretty sure we know that she knows what she's doing, but there's always a doubt in our mind. That doubt keeps us watching and waiting. American gay guys of today, particularly younger guys, may find some scenes bizarre if not unbelievable. The dancing scenes at Lake Chalapa, for example. Trust me, it's the way things were. Having lived in Mexico some twenty years before this film was made, I can say with confidence that it depicts a slice of Mexican society in true-to-life fashion. I enjoyed this movie quite a lot, and not just because the setting was somewhat nostalgic for me. I wasn't entirely sure where the movie was heading at any point, and to me, that's a sure mark of a good movie.

What I found most intriguing about this film was the beautiful camera-work. Several scenes were shot as one long take, with the camera tracking back and forth to follow the actors. The representation of space this created was spectacular. The characters' relationships to each other were literally fleshed out by their positions within the frame.

The movie is very funny and involving, but more than that. Showing how prehistorical and hypocrite may be the latin countries' attitude towards an effective, and paradoxical, way to cope with it. All winners and no loser. And -as in the real wold- the most "macho" of the characters appears to be the most passive one...