“DRAMA/MEX”
Drama/Mex is the bittersweet night-in-the-life tale of three intense, interlaced human relationships. Once a luxurious port but now in slow decline, Acapulco serves as the backdrop for the stories of a suicidal man, a 15-year-old runaway, and a young couple facing hardship after a tragic breakup. As we catch glimpses of a night that will change their lives, we are also given different perspectives of the events, playing with our perceptions of what takes place.
In his second feature (Malachance is a cool film that deserves a DVD release), writer/director Gerardo Naranjo again shows his skill for capturing life artfully, balancing the best of both melancholy and sobering moments. These characters are fun and interesting, even noble at times—you want to hang out with them but you know that you’d be raising bail before the night is over.
It sounds like yet another film with overlapping plots trying to make poetic sense (the dvd cover certainly doesn’t help – this isn’t a softcore soap opera, the hot young actors Diana Garcia and Emilio Valdes are actually good actors). Its modest nature and solid acting make it worth your while. By using characters at all stages of life—clever teens, sordid 20-somethings in heat, and supposedly-wise middle age—Naranjo rises above a single generation’s experience. With its luscious imagery and a compelling tone, Drama/Mex shows Naranjo as a great new talent in Mexican cinema.
The film premiered at Cannes 2006 and was exec produced by Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal. Released by Genius Products, available 12/4 on DVD for $24.95.
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