Reviews (4)

Danzon
This movie is worth watching! It has fantastic acting and a great storyline. It about a woman, Julia, and the dance, Danzon. The dance is much like her life, very rigid and controlled. After Julia's partner of many years stopped showing up for their usual dance, she worries and leaves to go find him. Her journey takes her to Veracruz. There she meets many delightful people who try to help her find him. After she has a love affair with a younger man, she leaves to go back home. While she is on her journey, she discovers a lot about herself and who she is. She left not only to find her partner, but to find herself as well. This movie is great for anyone who is willing to take a risk to find themselves!

Great feel good movie with great music.
This movie is not an instructional video but it is possible to learn the basic step for the Danzon from this movie. If you are good at learning by video it is possible to learn more advanced steps by slow forwarding the movie. This movie has some good Danzon dancing & some of the greatest Danzon song's. This movie is not for the young. It is slow paced & romantic. For someone my age, it is excellent. I loved this movie. This movie left me feeling great & happy. It has a good story & Maria Rojo is great.

Enchanting!
This movie is one of my absolute favorites! A must see for anyone who has ever gone in search of a little spice and adventure in their lives! Terrific true to life story, terrific script, terrific acting! If only everyone could be brave enough to leave their droll boring existences long enough to REALLY follow their hearts -- this movie made me want to go hop the next plane to Veracruz and learn the hypnotic Danzon rhythm! The unforgettable characters and the experiences the main character has during her quest for her dance partner will stay in your memory long after you have turned off your vcr!

Veracruz, Maria Rojo, danzon, what else is there?
One of my all time favorites. If you don't have the time to visit the fabulous port of Veracruz, watch this video. It captures the essence of Mexico. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Awesome performance
This is an amazing movie. It shows how life can be hard in Mexico city and how the diverse characters deal with it. As always, Demian Bichir has managed to show everyone what a great actor he is!

Amazing
This is an amazing movie, it makes you laugh and also realize how dangerous big cities can be. It is probably more appealing to people who have actually been to Mexico City or live there because they would understand how everything works. Great actors and a great plot.

A perfect portrait of life in Mexico City
It's interesting- the film makes you laugh at how miserable the living conditions can be in Mexico City. Yet, you can't help but laugh the whole way through! Not only is the acting phenomenal (as is usually the case with Demian Bichir), but the film lets you feel what it's like to live in Mexico City: crime and corruption dissolve into an unequaled passion for life. Amid the fear and danger, you've got to laugh. In summary, this movie isn't only entertaining, but illustrates the essence of being a Chilango. ... Read more

Description

An exploration of homophobia and machismo in Latin America through the bittersweet story of La Manuela, a transvestite who lives in a brothel run by his daughter. Wearing his favorite red flamenco dress, La Manuela steps in to defend his daughter's honor when she is threatened by a macho truck driver... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Mexican Movie.....and Funny!
This is one of the pionner mexican movies that talk openly about gay and machismo in latin Amercian. "La Manuela" is a great character and the whole store revolves around her. This one of the few movies that has really caputer most of the gay characteristics. I really recommend it. You will love it!

'FLAMING FLAMENCO FRACAS'
ROBERTO COBO [a striking resemblance to the late Jean Louis Barrault] brings much sympathy to this role of Transvestite/prostitute Manuel/Manuela, owner of one of those seedy little brothels housed in a 'touch of evil' town, somewhere south of the border....

His daughter, Ana Martin [no heart of gold there, an earthy performance], fathered during a moment of confusion, has followed in her father's steps [the prostitute bit], and is now terrorised by the return of Pancho, a macho truck driver [a lost Steinbeck character, they are all quite close to their American cousins ["East of Eden" country]give or take a few changes]. During the course of events, we learn that the village is about to be sold by the ruthless landlord [owner?], Manuel's daughter still has "something" to resolve with Pancho, which may be dangerous, SO Manuel/Manuela intervenes, dons the red dress, previously ripped by the same Pancho, and somewhat reluctantly decides to follow this fandango of fate ........

Gonzalo Vega is perhaps too attractive as Pancho, but he does bring great sensitivity and sympathy to this confused character, AND HE does cry! There is room for a sequel, and there should be - male mistique being what it is.....

Arturo Ripstein's vision is straight-forward, no frills, simple and effective. Grand use of color, the red truck, red flamenco dress, etc. Good DVD transfer, sub-titles are clear, the sound, not surround though, is good - especially Ripstein's choice of scratchy music. Great opening sequence with the red truck blazing appropriate music - an Orpheus returning to a somewhat soiled Euridice in the Underworld.

No, it's not "La Cage Aux Folles" or "Victor/Victoria" it's closer to Fellini's early gritty work, not Genet [we are spared that degree of realism, this version is really quite PG] it's closer to "Torch Song Trilogy".

Other companion pieces of despair? Try Almodovar's "Law of Desire".

transvestites can't have children
transvestites are impotent(with women) so they can't impregnate a woman to have children.

Ripstein's best movie EVER! (IMHO)
This was the first movie by Ripstein I ever saw and although it's obviously low-budget and looks dank and dull, I loved the way the story and acting work together to examine the destructive effects of paternalistic power in a small community. The main actors - 'Manuela' and 'Pancho' - work miracles. The actor who played Manuela particularly is incredible at portraying a lack-lustre, down-at-heel transvestite/brothel madam in such a way as you identify with her and see her particular beauty clearly. I don't know why he didn't work in more movies, but... that's life! The inevitable violence of the end leaves you gutted and, more incredibly, understanding what the forces were that led each person to act as they do; you see the true tragedy as not down to individual blame, but social forces working through people, locking them into insane courses of action. Watch this, if you can get it...

UNA OBRA MAESTRA DEL CINE MEXICANO
"El Lugar Sin Límites" es una adaptación de la novela homónima de José Donoso. La historia nos sitúa en un pequeño pueblo de la provincia mexicana. La unica diversión que sus habitantes conocen es el burdel local en donde vive la Manuela (Roberto Covo), un travesti. La Manuela tiene una hija, la Japonesita (Ana Martin) y su madre es la Japonesa (Lucha Villa). Gonzalo Vega interpreta a un jornalero mediocre, pero muy macho, que asedia a la Japonesita. Tiempo atrás el tubo un conflicto con la Manuela y viene para "darle en la madre". Partiendo de una cita de "Fausto", que proviene del libro; Ripstein desenreda una historia llena de metáforas biblicas en donde los temas centrales son el infierno y la culpa. El filme constituye una desmitificación total del machismo mexicano que termina demostrando sus tendencias homosexuales. La producción es magnífica, cuenta con una ambientación excepcional y una fotografía que revela los detalles y caracteres de la miseria rural. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

EL INICIO DE UN NUEVO GENERO DEL CINE MEXICANO
Con esta pelicula se inicia todo un nuevo genero del cine mexicano,que nos presenta con historias simples y sencillas la vida de las "ficheras" aderezadas con desnudos totales femeninos y albures,para regocijo del gran publico con escasa cultura.Este cine aunque de escaso valor cinematografico nos ofrece un panorama de la llamada cultura popular mexicana. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

EL INICIO DE UN NUEVO GENERO DEL CINE MEXICANO
Con esta pelicula se inicia todo un nuevo genero del cine mexicano,que nos presenta con historias simples y sencillas la vida de las "ficheras" aderezadas con desnudos totales femeninos y albures,para regocijo del gran publico con escasa cultura.Este cine aunque de escaso valor cinematografico nos ofrece un panorama de la llamada cultura popular mexicana. ... Read more