Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Sex, politics, road trip.
Presentation:
Afonso Cuaron and Lubezki strike gold with their Spanish coming of age road trip with political commentary. Lubezki’s presence can be felt, but only if you look closely enough. He utilizes some of the handheld shakiness that would go on to influence Breaking Bad, offering a more participatory feeling for the audience. The milder ultrawides aren’t as apparent with the exception of a few closeup shots, but still expansively fill the interiors of the car. Among the nudity, the context is omnisciently narrated with disruptive cuts, which provide one of the more unique cinematic experiences. It’s thoughtfully presented paired with accompanying scenes of political unrest in the background, somewhat incongruous to the main plot of the dysfunctional trio.
Conclusion:
2 rowdy male delinquents and a seductive woman with political commentary in the background. It’s very easy to see a comparison with Bertolucci’s The Dreamers which shares many sexual and political sensibilities. Both are similar but with their own merits and can be enjoyed for different reasons. However, this film has more substance with more developed characters with meaningful motivations and backstories that allow audiences to better connect with the liberated lovers.
Recommendations
Spanish cinema has the spiciest romance mysteries.