Lo que importa es vivir

One of the problems with the streaming era is that only a limited number of movies get streamed, leaving countless movies unavailable. It's mostly the latest Hollywood movies streaming, meaning that numerous works essentially get lost unless you can find them in a neighborhood video store (yes, they still exist). An example of this is the fact that I'm the first person reviewing this movie.

Mexico's submission to the Academy Awards for 1987's Best Foreign Language Film is about a drifter who takes a job on an hacienda where the unfulfilled wife grows interested in him. Luis Alcoriza's "Lo que importa es vivir" ("Life Is Most Important" in English) is one of many movies breaking through the facade of a perfect family. It makes sure never to hammer its subject matter into you, it simply lets everything play out. It's the first Alcoriza movie that I've ever seen, and I'd like to see more; I wonder if his "Tlayucan" (nominated for Best Foreign Language Film the year that it got released) is available anywhere.

In the meantime, I do recommend seeking out movies that aren't streaming. This is one, but there are thousands of others.