Pedro Páramo

Juan Rulfo might be one of the most influencial Latin American writters of all time, and Pedro Paramo is without a doubt his masterpiece, so having to adapt it into any kind of work (a film, a tv series, a play) is a risk very few screenwriters, directors and producers can afford.

Four times Academy Award® nominee cinematographer - and now director - Rodrigo Prieto knows very well how to use all his resources and talent to create a flawless visually and technical stunning enviroment worthy of praise with the help of Academy Award® winner Eugenio Caballero in charge of the production design, and Academy Award® winner Gustavo Santaolalla in the music score.

The cast is amazing too, especially the supporting performances by Dolores Heredia, Roberto Sosa and Ilse Salas.

Goya® winner Mateo Gil does an impressive work adapting Rulfo's book, keeping in mind the narrative of the book is not lineal and might be difficult to follow, therefore this is a movie that needs to be watched while paying attention.

A mother's last wish is for her son, Juan, to visit the father he never knew in a distant town. Juan finds the town abandoned and yet swirling with life. Nothing is as it seems. Apparitions appear and drift away. Pedro Páramo, the father, lays claim to the town and its inhabitants, and yet strangely his soul also belongs to them. Juan risks being swallowed by the miscreant spirits, the terrible deeds, and all the heartache. Not the inheritance he expected.

With intoxicating dance sequences, a profusion of light and color, flashbacks, capable acting, and the amazing cinematography of Rodrigo Prieto, the film and cast bring Juan Rulfo's 1955 masterpiece of magic realism to life. "If you want to understand who we are as a country," said one of the actors "then open the book."

The best part of the film is the characters. They are not good or bad, just human. Director Rodrigo Prieto, who was present for this world premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, said that the characters fascinated him too. "Each character" he said, "has something about ourselves." Have an internal journey of your own in the magic and darkness of this film, a reflection of the Mexican soul.

The difficulty of adapting one of the best Mexican literary works and one of the greatest examples of surrealism was a complete challenge for this great photographer and now debuting director. The film tries and succeeds very well, with an excellent cast and a long history in Mexican cinema, they give it the necessary support to tell this magical, melancholic story that is difficult to understand for those who are not Mexican. It is not the typical Hollywood, there are no monsters, aliens, or other current inclusive themes. This film is a tribute to Mexico, to our history, to our countryside and to our people. I think Mr. Rulfo would be happy with the work done on his great novel.

I didn't know this was adapted from a novel until I read some of these reviews, but now that makes sense. There is a depth of pain and sorrow wrought from the passions and injustices of our human condition in every frame of this film, and I am guessing in every page of the novel, which I have not read. Some reviews seem to think it does not do justice to the book, but imo, as a film it is beautifully tragic. And very well filmed and acted. There are probably many cultural elements about the story I missed, like One Hundred Years Of Solitude, but also like that film it's a fabulous and deep work. My only complaint is I lost track of some of the characters, who they were and what time they represented. But it all came into focus later. 8/10.

Having read the book first, I'm a little torn on which I like better.

Some moments in the story hit better on paper. Overall, however, the movie is easier to follow. It's a very faithful adaptation in terms of what happens in the plot. The visuals & transitions between scenes do a great job of helping the viewer understand the cacophony of characters & the constant jumping around between places in the timeline. Simply being able to see which character's face is talking & how old they look makes it easier to fit all the pieces together-even if some vague aspects are left up to interpretation by the end.

They also do a good job of leaning into the horror elements. They don't simplify the plot to reduce it to a jump-scare thriller. It simply has some nice moments of creepy tension. Tenoch Huerta-Mejía performs well in these scenes.

Similarly, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo performs so believably as Pedro Páramo, being somehow sympathetic (you believe he's having the emotions he shows) despite all the horrible shit he does.

In the end, I have to give the slight edge to the movie. It works better.