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Y tu mamá también
Studio: MGM
Year: 2001
Rated: Unrated - STRONG sexual content
Film Length: 106 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (1.85:1)
Subtitles: English
I have repeatedly stated that one of the biggest
thrills I have as a reviewer is getting the
opportunity to watch some extraordinary films that
I may usually have overlooked. Perhaps my most
memorable moments come with the small amount of
foreign titles that I occasionally have the
opportunity to review. Once again, I find myself
in total awe of a masterpiece.
Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too)
is the most emotionally charged erotic road
movie I have ever seen. Shot entirely with a
hand held camera, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki
brings a fresh style to this film that is nothing
short of gorgeously raw and sensual. It is one
best erotic films I have seen, and I firmly hope
that it receives much attention with this DVD
release.
Two best friends, Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio
(Gael García Bernal), are friends in Mexico City
whose girlfriends have departed to Europe for the
summer. All alone, these raging hormone-enhanced
boys don't know what to do with themselves. At a
family wedding, they meet Tenoch's distant cousin
Luisa (Maribel Verdú) and invite her to join them
on a road trip to a beach called Heaven's Mouth.
After Luisa finds out that her husband has been
cheating on her, she decides to leave him behind
and take off with the boys. The only problem is
that the boys made up the whole thing up about
the beach. As far as they know, there is no Heaven's
Mouth and if there is, they sure as hell don't know
how to get there.
Filled with raw scenes of sexuality, this film is
unlike anything seen in Hollywood films, and it is
certainly a film that could never have been made
here in the States. The film treats sex as what
sex is: orgasmic, sometimes scary, and usually very
exciting. It's a wonderful coming-of-age story set
against Lubezki's beautiful cinematography of the
Mexican desert and beach.
In short, this is the story of the boys and Luisa.
It's a road trip that takes them to a sexual
frontier they could never have imagined.
How is the transfer?
The transfer has a wonderfully warm and natural feel
to it, with colors and lighting that are more subdued
than overly vivid. All of this does great justice to
the film's beautiful cinematography. I immediately
became immersed in its warm color tones that showed
no hint of film grain.
The Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital surround track is
clear and robust, but mostly front-heavy. Dialogue
remains in the center channel with some very distinct
stereo separation across the fronts. The rears do
very little to support the ambiance of this film,
often remaining completely silent, but I really
didn't seem to mind as sound didn't seem to be the
most important element of this film.
Special Features
The DVD features an interesting assortment of added
material that I will now take you through.
Now here's an interesting question. What is the
point of releasing this DVD with a full-length
audio commentary if nobody is going to
understand it? I was absolutely looking forward
to listening to this commentary that involves the
cast members who played Julio, Tenoch and Saba.
Imagine my shock when I found out it was all in
Spanish, with no translational support. I mean,
the first scene in the film alone is worth a
commentary, but all I hear is the guys giggling
and talking Spanish. What the F?!
Next is Carlos Cuaron's short film, Me La Debes.
This is a highly-charged look at sexual deception
within a single family. Pretty darn good!
(length: approx. 11 minutes)
Three deleted scenes are included here.
* A ride to the airport features Julio in the
back seat as he receives a discrete hand job from his
girlfriend.
* An old Mexican whistling endlessly.
* The trio has a little fun driving, singing, and
keeping each other in good company.
In all, the scenes run 2.5 minutes in length, and
except for the second deleted scene, are pretty fun
to watch.
Making of Y tu mamá también is the kind
of behind-the-scenes stuff you will never see in
a Hollywood promotional vehicle -- and that's what
makes this so cool to watch! It's a very loose
and foul-languaged look at all the fun that went
on behind the scenes, including (gasp!) how semen
was deposited in a swimming pool. I would also
swear that those were real marijuana joints sitting
on the table! This is the coolest "making of" I
have yet to see, just showing how damn good something
like this can be when it's not trying to promote
itself! Definitely as fun as the film itself!
(length: approx. 21 minutes)
Closing out the extras is the film's original
theatrical trailer as well as a TV Spot
that promotes the appraises of the critics.
Final Thoughts
Anyone who wants to see a film that's totally out
of the Hollywood bullshit realm should do themselves
a favor and rent Y tu mamá también. It's a
fresh, highly erotic film that makes for an evening
of memorable entertainment.
In fact, I would bet that any healthy male that
decides to rent this DVD will not walk away the
least disappointed. I'll even wager some of you
will buy it. Do anything you can to get your hands
on this DVD as soon as possible. Enjoy it with
your favorite beer and smoke!
Release Date: Now
