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Moms away
The rudely titled "Y Tu Mama Tambien" is not just the so-called Mexican "Porky's" — it's a funny, sexy exploration of intimacy in one of the world's biggest cities.
By MARIANA CARRE–O KING
Offoffoff.com
(Originally reviewed at the 2001 New York International Film Festival.)
"Y Tu Mama Tambien" caused some controversy in Mexico, where it was screened
early this year. It was often said to be a Mexican version of "Porky's,"
full of unnecessary sex scenes. It still broke the record for highest-grossing Mexican film, selling out in 190 movie theatres on its seventh
week, although because of its sexual content and depiction of teenagers, it
was R-rated. Funny, it is the kind of film I would have loved to see as a
teenager.
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| Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN |
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron.
Written by: Alfonso and Carlos Cuaron.
Cast: Maribel Verdu, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diana Bracho, Emilio Echevarria, Ana Lopez Mercado, Maria Aura, Andres Almeida, Veronica Langer, Arturo Rios, Marta Aura Juan Carlos Remolina, Silverio Palacios, Daniel Gimenez Cacho..
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki.
Related links:
Official site
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Y Tu Mama Tambien
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With their girlfriends off to Italy, two hormone-ridden teenagers, Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal), become infatuated with Luisa (Maribel Verdu), an "older" woman of 28 married to an obnoxious writer. Together, the two boys and the woman venture into a delightful exploration of sexual identity and intimacy.
Tenoch is the son of a wealthy but corrupt politician and a frivolous high-society lady. Julio has been raised by a single mother, in a more humble, middleclass environment. His sister is a left-wing activist in Mexico City. Luisa is an orphan from Spain, married to one of Tenoch's cousins. During their first meeting at an impressive Mexican wedding (with the president and his bodyguards in attendance), Luisa humors the boys who invite her to spend a few days camping at a beach called "Boca del Cielo" (Heaven's Mouth) — a name they make up on the spot. But soon after she receives some heartbreaking news, she decides to accept the boys' invitation. And so the film begins.
"Y Tu Mama Tambien" (translated from Spanish as "And Your Mother Too," but connoting "I screwed your mother too") is a funny, provocative, sexy journey into intimacy set in Mexico City, one of the biggest cities in the world.
Alfonso Cuaron ("Little Princess," "Great Expectations") handles the talented cast with exquisite realism. Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal are especially credible as the two teens struggling to find their identity, even if it means risking their lifelong friendship in the process. Maribel Verdu is an outstanding actress, although her character tends to slow the pace of the film with unnecessary melodrama.
Shooting in sequence and with only natural light, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki ("Little Princess," "Sleepy Hollow") gives the film the natural feeling it demands. With this "road movie," writers Alfonso and Carlos Cuaron take us by the hand through not only the hilarious adventures and misadventures of this unlikely group, but, with the help of a narrator, we're also offered the sociopolitical context in which the characters live.
Full of sex, drugs and ingeniously funny scenes (and not yet rated), "Y Tu Mama Tambien is an important look at a world full of contradictions. We have all been there .Ê.Ê. or at least we all know someone who has.
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OCTOBER 8, 2001
OFFOFFOFF.COM • THE GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE NEW YORK
Reader comments on Y Tu Mama Tambien:
cOoL!! from VaL=), Mar 15, 2002
VERGAS from Cesar Daniel Bedolla, Apr 19, 2002
What? from Rio, Mar 31, 2002
Music from Consuelo, Apr 6, 2002
Y tu from valerie Jones, Oct 16, 2002
Gael from Lindsey, Mar 28, 2003
good from gabriel, Oct 21, 2003
WTF?! from Soneji75, May 15, 2005
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