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Drama/Mex
Acapulco is the Backdrop for Bifurcated, Bittersweet
Morally-Ambiguous Adventure
Film Review by Kam Williams
Unfolding over the course of one very eventful day in the decaying
resort town of Acapulco, Drama/Mex relates a pair of imperceptibly
interlocking tales about local ne’er-do-wells frittering away their
futures in the tawdry tourist trap. One story revolves around Fernanda
(Diana Garcia), a Latino version of Paris Hilton. This daughter of a
Mexican hotel magnate is hanging out all alone at her sumptuous family
estate when Chino (Emilio Valdes), an ex-boyfriend, shows up uninvited
and starts pressuring her to make love.
She
reminds the intruder that she already has a new beau, Gonzalo (Juan
Pablo Castaneda), a yuppie who knows how to treat her like a lady.
Chino’s response is to rip off her clothes and to take her against her
will. Halfway through the sexual assault, she begs the creep at least to
put on a condom, whereupon he callously responds, “I’m raping you,
bitch.”
Yet,
when he’s through, the indecisive debutante chooses to share a cigarette
with the admitted gigolo who had previously used her to steal money from
her father. And after a brief interlude, rather than call the cops, she
opts to copulate with him again, apparently being hopelessly attracted
to the bad-boy type.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Jaime (Fernando Becerril), a suicidal,
middle-aged bureaucrat, spits on his boss’ desk after stealing the
company payroll. He then heads home where he steals a kiss from his
daughter before declining her invitation for an incestuous liaison.
Instead, he packs a gun, bids his wife adieu and heads to the shore
where he rents a motel room with every intention of killing himself.
Once
there, however, he encounters 15 year-old Tigrillo (Miriana Moro), a
“massage therapist” on the prowl for rich tourists to offer oral
relaxation before picking their pockets. Initially, she swipes Jaime’s
wallet but later ‘fesses up, proving to be the proverbial prostitute
with a heart of gold.
Will
Fernanda wake up and dump Chino before Gonzalo finds out she’s cheating
on him? Will Jaime pull the trigger on the pistol he’s holding to his
head or will he be tempted to start over with the naughty nymphet? These
are the questions contemplated by Drama/Mex, a movie constructed more
like a French romance drama (talk… coupling… sex… smoking… uncoupling…
more talk… more coupling… more sex… more smoking… etcetera) than one
from south of the border.
The
post-modern décor, such as the corny serenade scene featuring a mariachi
band, leaves no doubt that the locale is cheesy Crapapulco. Yet, this
morally-ambiguous adventure’s cleverly-concealed, parallel powder keg
plotlines are sufficiently compelling to keep you riveted to these loco
losers’ predicaments till the bitter end.
Excellent (HHHH)
Unrated
In Spanish and English with subtitles.
Running time: 93 minutes
Studio: IFC First Take
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Lloyd
Kam Williams