Review of Y Tu Mamá También (2001) by Edwin P — 05 Feb 2011

To dismiss "Y Tu Mama Tambien" simply as a road movie of sexual discoveries would be a mistake. There is a deeper film at work here. To a certain degree, it is a social and political satire and makes strong statements about the current state of affairs in Mexico and classism. Director Alfonso Cuaron succeeds in getting his points across using multiple storylines.

Having seen it twice now, the first in a theater in Scottsdale mostly an audience of Mexican decent and the other in Reno, both experiences were very different. While the Reno viewing was very subdued and quiet, in Scottsdale, the audience reaction to this film was fairly strong based on the responses they made while watching it. That audience was a vocal bunch - reacting to the film's finer moments. It helped in understanding and gaining a better appreciation for it and made for a better viewing experience.

CHAROLASTRAS!

*SPOILERS* abound so proceed at your own risk!

The story of Luisa is truly a heartbreaker. Orphaned at an early age and raised by someone who in return, she ends up caring for due to her old age, her life story is one of many bad lucks and full of disappointments. She is a woman trying to make something of herself despite her poor background and lack of interest in current affairs. The latter is not so easy to do especially with the crowd she is forced to hang around with along with her husband. When she leaves with Tenoch and Julio for a new life, the camera pans to a collage of pictures on a wall in her apartment representing the only family she knew.

One does not have to listen to the voice over narrative to bring home the theme of classism that Alfonso Cuaron very much wants to bring to the forefront. This is evident in the friendship between Tenoch and Julio. At the outset, this friendship was on a very superficial level and something that wasn't going to last even without that surprising turn in the end.

This all came about in one of their arguments and during the "truth session" they all had. It's funny how the truth can outright be said while under the influence of alcohol. Both knew their place in society especially when Tenoch tells Julio that he is nothing but "white trash" and a "social climber". After that was said, was there really any friendship left? Julio's revelation to Tenoch and after Tenoch telling him that they can never be friends again, for the most part, ended their friendship.

The film is even more comical the second time around especially during some of the sex scenes as intended. It is a well-written and directed film.

As Tenoch, Diego Luna is quite good. He showed a wide range of emotions and was a natural. The same can be said of Gael Garcia Bernal (Julio) and Maribel Verdu (Luisa). Case in point - when she says goodbye to her husband over the phone putting his feelings first before hers by not telling her the real reason for her leaving even after his "reaffirmations".

"Y Tu Mama Tambien" works on so many levels and deals with so many themes. It is a bold, confident and well-acted film and is the one to beat in 2002.