Review of Y Tu Mamá También (2001) by Ashlee P — 08 Feb 2011

I was so impressed with "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" that I really wanted to check out more films by Alfonso Cuaron. After watching "Y Tu Mama Tambien" I think I now understand why there were a few raised eyebrows when the director of such a realistic and sexually aware film was asked to helm an installment of a kid's fantasy film franchise.

Having said that, I also now know why "Azkaban" is my favorite Harry Potter episode since Cuaron's deft hand with character development and relationships is well evidenced in "Y Tu Mama Tambien".

The premise: two callow youths Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael García Bernal) find themselves without their girlfriends for the summer. They meet an exotic older Spanish woman named Luisa (Maribel Verdú) at a wedding and try to impress her with tales of a secluded (if not wholly imaginary) stretch of beach called the "Heaven's Mouth".

Initially put off by their immaturity, Luisa eventually agrees to go on a road trip with them when her husband confesses to infidelity. En route to this fictional destination, the conversations between the three unlikely travelers become increasingly intimate and eventually their relationship turns sexual.

At first Luisa's behavior seems irresponsible and unrealistic, but as the film continues to progress, we begin to get into her headspace with a final revelation that is both sad and shocking. Both Tenoch and Julio undergo their own complicated character arcs and the tenuous trust between them begins to reveal more and more about the nature of their jealousies.

The performances offered up by all three of the principal actors are a marvel. Rarely do you see actors so courageous in their commitment to authenticity. It also helps that they're given lots of robust and salty dialogue to verbally spar with.

One of the most interesting and overlooked techniques employed by Cuaron here involves periodically suspending the soundtrack so that a narrator can give context to the main characters, walk on minor players, as well as the social, economic and political machinations that are happening concurrent to the story.

Although this mainly meant to provide a simple yet effective method to convey the fragility of life it also does a good job convincing the viewer that "this too shall pass". Cuaron's visual eye is also particularly keen especially when juxtaposing the abject poverty of his home country against it's undeniable inherent beauty.

"Y Tu Mama Tambien" is a film of startling, daring originality. See if if you're not easily offended by honest depictions of sexuality or if you're tired of being offended by lazy screenwriting.

Tilt: up.