Lucia, Lucia

Wasn't this supposed to be the summer of only dumb sequels for teenagers?

So what a surprise that we have a virtual trilogy of intelligent foreign films about women of a certain age with strong, sexy imaginations and time on their hands to meet up with unexpected strangers, in "Swimming Pool" then "Friday Night (Vendredi Soir)" and now "Lucia, Lucia (La Hija del canibal)."

"Lucia" is unexpectedly the funniest of the three, a delightfully wry black comedy with twists on expectations that the storyteller turns on herself constantly as she bonds in an odd three-some with her neighbors, an elderly ex-revolutionary and a young hunk.

While based on a novel, it seems like a gender/generational response to the Mexican teen-age road movie "Y Tu Mama Tambien," in the classic tradition of women's response songs to hits (as in "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"), complete with a country line dance scene as a relaxing break from political intrigue and marital secrets exposed while Lucia searches for her kidnapped husband -- and herself.

One of the running jokes is how the older generations can still surprise the young 'uns.

(2003) Lucia, Lucia/ La hija del caníbal (In Spanish with English subtitles) THRILLER

Adapted from the novel by Rosa Montero, co-written and directed by Antonio Serrano involving a middle age wife Lucia (Cecilia Roth) who has learned that her husband has been kidnapped with a huge demand she unknowingly knew nothing about. And as the movie progresses the husband's kidnapping unfolds Lucia welcomes two tenants of Felix (Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa) and Adrian (Kuno Becker) into the mystery as well as the money.

Intriguing and baffling with some twists and unexpected turns some of the moments between Lucia and her three leads is similar to the average Pedro Aldomovar movie.

Spanish/Mexican co-production set in Mexico and surroundings with thrills , fun , intrigue , humor , bemusing incidents and nice players . It deals with a mature woman called Lucia (Cecilia Roth , Pedro Almodovar's usual actress) , she is a kid's book author and tells the tale of her husband's disappearance . Lucia is on an adventure that could change her life if she doesn't turn back . One day on their way to Brazil , at airport , her husband just disappears with no tracks . She goes to the District Precinct to denounce the deeds , gets a ransom note , and when is attacked by some hoodlums she befriends an old dude (the veteran Carlos Alvarez Novoa) downstairs and the young man (Kuno Becker) upstairs . Both of them help her and are caught up in trouble when attempt to solve the kidnapping and try to find him . In their vicissitude , the dropouts will be involving into mobsters , powerful drug baron , corrupt officers , among others . Things take a bit of a twist as she realized the abducting may not be as clear as it seems on the surface . In pursuing its objective the losers will face a group of gangsters , kidnappers and Police officers . Meanwhile , the motley team travels across Mexico .

This pursuit/road movie comedy contains intrigue , lots of emotion , drama , mystery , humor , entertainment , amusement and a colorful photography with juicy atmosphere . The extraordinary new wave of Mexican cinema continues with this slightly funny film , including entertaining events , suspense and an enticing love story ; being based on a novel written by Rosa Montero and screenplay by the same filmmaker Antonio Serrano . The film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable, with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few embarrassing . The journey of the protagonists is so repetitive and the most part results to be rich in absurdities and implausibilities . The flick gives a short description about lives of people in Mexico D.F. , neighborhood , malls , markets , delinquency underground and many other things . This is a typical action/comedy from the 2000s with the usual ingredients such as thrills , suspense , enjoyable humor , social habits , relationships among people and an enjoyable love story between a Milf and a young boy . The main issue about the continuous meetings and ongoing squabbles between the protagonists and the pursuers is so repetitive and that makes it a bit boring though happen several adventures , mishaps , distresses and an unexpected final twist . The picture attempts to spread optimism about the events of life , friendship and love , with its amusing sides but also including some risks . The film explores the relationship among a motley trio well played by top-notch actors such as Cecilia Roth , Carlos Alvarez Novoa and Kuno Becker .

Atmospheric and appropriate musical score , including evocative Mexican sounds . Adequate as well as colorful cinematography by Xavier Pérez Grobet who subsequently worked in Hollywood such as : ¨Super Nacho¨, ¨Monster house¨, ¨Lyrics and music¨ , ¨I love you Philip Morris¨ and ¨Enough Said¨, among others . The motion picture well produced by great producer Andres Vicente Gomez was professionally written and directed by Antonio Serrano . Antonio was born in Mexico City and is a talented and versatile writer/director who has made a vast array of often solid and entertaining films in all kind of genres such as ¨Morelos¨, ¨Hidalgo¨ , ¨Sexo, Pudor , Lagrimas¨ and this acceptable comedy/thriller ¨La Hija del Cannibal¨ or "The Cannibal's Daughter¨ or ¨Lucía, Lucía" - USA title .

If you expect the plot in this Mexican pseudo-thriller to make sense, or be suspenseful, you are bound to be disappointed. The crux of this movie are the relationships and mid-life recentering that go on in Lucia's (Cecilia Roth) life. Her husband disappears, and she rushes to find him. Along the way she is befriended by an old ex-rebel communist and a young man who falls in love with her despite her wishes otherwise. These two friends come to take precedence in her life as she realized she doesn't really like her husband, and wants to live her own life. When she eventually tracks down her husband, she wishes him well and they go their separate ways. I didn't dislike the film even despite its weakness. I was interested to see how Lucia discovered herself and grew closer to and pushed away those around her.

This movie is like a veggie burger with eggplant in place of beef, covered in lettuce and tomatoes and sauce. When you first bite in, the first thing you taste is the bun and the lettuce. Then as you chew, you see that there is sauce, tomato and eggplant, but no meat. Try as you might, it's just not the same without meat. It might be not be disappointing if it were packaged a salad between bread, but as a substitute for a burger, it just doesn't satisfy. 5/10

http://blog.myspace.com/locoformovies

I just finished watching the movie, I saw it at the blockbuster store and didn't want to rent it because I thought it was really bad, however, I just rented it anyways.... I am not going to tell you what this movie is about, but what I think about the movie (I have never studied cinema or anything, so, please tae this just as a comment from an excentric person)

This movie has the lost mexican touch from the seventies, with the political yell from this decade (2000-2009). Funny indeed, but also dramatical and

superficial, with the magical mexican touch of surrealism (which Jodorowsky

excelled in his films, shooted in Mexico, like El Topo and Holy Mountain)

The political yell I am referring here is the one that has come out in cinema in mexico this decade, in movies that include: La ley de Herodes (Herodes' Law)

among others. It is NOT a Hollywood movie, so please do not expect a huge budget movie

with huge SFX, instead a more tight budget movie, with a nice story to tell

This movie is once again the reflection of the mexican society:

First of all: The magic and beauty of the unbeauty that comes from surrealism, which is the same as Mexico and it's people, how they live and think, which is a surreal way of thinking, and as most of us think surrealistic, the mexican culture and society tend to be more surreal (giving you a fantastic photography of the horrible but beautiful)

Secondly: The political yell; this is because of the oppression and corruption mexican people had to suffer all these years, where they just work oppressively receiving nothing but LESS buying power and MORE frustration (this is related once again to surrealism), where only a few are priviliged (this is a lot more notable when you go south of America) Political screams is an escape valve to that oppression, and this movie is one of that kind

If you have had the chance to see mexican cinema, this is a nice example (not the best, though) to watch it. I may just dare to say this movie is a lot like the french cinema, only with less introspectiveness (as the french cinema tends to be [not all of it of course, but it's a cultural thing, which gives a flavor to each cinema of the world])

Well... all in all this movie is a Superb, with brilliant direction and photography, however, not very appreciated by some critics..... ...by the way, I almost forgot to tell you, I loved the way the movie begins