And your mother too (Y tú mamá también) - Alfonso Cuarón

This visual delight is a Mexican political metaphor in the garb of a wonderfully unapologetic elevating teen charade. The blatantly sexual and unabashedly erotic elements are expertly entwined with deliberate, yet subtle musings on class, morality and intimacy. Cuarón has captured, with a rare sensitivity of truth, a multifaceted political evolutionary saga for the country of Mexico, interweaving it with the coming-of-age tale of two teenage boys.

The story centers around two friends, Tenoch (Diego Luna), who comes from a frivolously rich background and the more humble Julio (Gael García Bernal) who has regular middle class origins. Despite their obvious differences, their bond is as touching as it is vulnerable. They are companions in all the regular things that can be expected out of two, hormone- ridden teenagers (Read- Sex, drugs, parties et. al.).

Their bond is put under the scanner when, a few days after their girlfriends leave for Europe, they meet Luisa (Maribel Verdú) at a wedding. She is the Spanish wife of Tenoch's cousin and is much older to them. Blinded by their combined desire for Luisa, they invite her on a road trip to a fictitious beach, Heaven's Mouth. With nothing to loose and desperate to escape her infidel spouse, Luisa joins them on their journey. What follows is an expedition full of sex, sensuality, discovery, self-awareness and occasional denial. The heartbroken Luisa shares a lot about herself, her life as an orphan, her crumbling marriage and past relationships ,but due to lack of empathy from the boys, the discussion inevitably boils down to the one topic that interests them the most : sex. Her matriarchal suggestions and the knowledge that she offers them on the subject are at once humorous and touching. The film progresses with both the boys vying for her attention with increasing resentment towards each other.

The personal redemptive journey of Luisa and the nebulous friendship between Julio and Tenoch culminate together in one drunken, languorous and uninhibited night which consequently leads to inevitable termination of friendships and eventual heartbreak.

What lends the film its character are the sights and sounds of Mexico from an explorative angle. Mexico as seen from the point of view of the boys, who are fairly protected from poverty, police harassment and lack of opportunity etc and Luisa who, even as a foreigner, fully embraces Mexico. She sees how alive the country is and you can slowly see Mexico growing on her throughout the film.

Tenoch and Julio are urban Mexican youth who drive fast cars and experiment with drugs. The real Mexico is as lost on them as it is on Luisa. The film therefore, is also a combined journey towards their exploration of this beautiful country as much as it is their journey towards their growing self awareness.

The definitely alive and colorful tale becomes almost poignant by the end when termination and endings take over. These come in the form of Death and the irrevocable crack in the seemingly unbreakable friendship that Tenoch and Julio shared.

The unique voice over’s throughout the film are sharp and insightful and are creditable in the way they have been cleverly interwoven into the story giving us occasional insights into the inevitable future from the present situation. The character driven, intimate portrayals by all the three leads characters are applause worthy and the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki is breathtaking. It should be noted that the entire shooting was done in sequence and with only natural light which gives the film the natural feeling it demands. Overall, another shining addition in the ever expanding collection of Alfonso Cuarón and a definitive step forward for Mexican Cinema.

A short visual journey to the film