Sunday, August 09, 2009

Máncora


Following the suicide of his father, Santiago decides to travel to Mancora, a beach to the north of Peru where apparently he had spent happier days in the past. Before his departure, his stepsister Ximena shows up, accompanied by her husband Iñigo. The two join him on this journey and end up having to face their own problems and conflicts.

There is quite a lot of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” going around in Mancora and being in a troubled state of mind (for different reasons), all of them end up doing things that only add to inner and external turmoil. You know how it goes, sometimes we decide that not thinking and just doing whatever our instincts tell us to do is a great way to forget our problems…until we find out they only got worst.

The consequences of their actions will finally determine changes in their lives and, unlike some other similar movies, not everything finishes tragically though the ending still resonates as believable.

This film from Peruvian director Ricardo de Montreuil was selected for competition in the World Drama category at the Sundance Film Festival 2008.

There’s nothing to criticize regarding the acting, both from actors on leading roles as secondary ones. I have to admit that the presence of beautiful Spanish actress Elsa Pataky as Ximena also helps a lot.

I would have liked to see some aspects of the story more explored, like the relation between Santiago and his father, or even his relationship with Ximena in the past. Still, I found it absorbing.

There is an interesting message underlying this story and I enjoyed very much watching it. Don’t worry; it’s not too pretentious or philosophical, just well balanced.


Green light!

Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion

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