La mujer de mi hermano

LA MUJER DE MI HERMANO seems to have polarized viewers between those who classify it as a television novela and those who see it as a stylish Latin American drama. Written by Peruvian author Jaime Bayly, adapted by María Eugenia Argomedo, and directed by Peruvian director Ricardo de Montreuil, the cast boasts actors from Peru (Christian Meier), Colombia (Manolo Cardona), Uruguay (Bárbara Mori), Venezuela (Gaby Espino), Chile (Beto Cuevas), and Mexico (Angélica Aragón, Bruno Bichir). It is a fine showcase for some of the fine talent from Latin America that is gaining a strong influence on theatrical films released in the USA. It offers a story embracing many current dilemmas in society (relationship to church, infidelity, illegitimate pregnancy, homosexuality, childhood sexual abuse) and blends them into a film acted by a fine cast of beautiful and talented actors and artists behind the camera, and the result is a luminous piece of cinema that deserves a second look.

Ignacio (Meier) is a handsome, wealthy, emotionally cool man who is married to a sensuous, beautiful, sexually frustrated Zoe (Mori), The couple may appear to have it all - splendid house, wealth, expensive tastes - but they have been unable to have children in their ten year marriage. The disparity between their sexual needs results in Zoe finding solace in the arms of Ignacio's bohemian artist brother Gonzalo and they begin an affair that results in a surprise pregnancy. This crisis unveils the truth about the characters: Gonzalo, still reeling from the childhood sexual abuse by his older brother Ignacio, doesn't want fatherhood and marriage, and in the peak of the tremor the pregnancy creates Gonzalo shares Ignacio's homosexuality with Zoe. How the three confront their needs and fears pulls the story to a close, an ending that addresses fully the characteristic traits that have shaped the lives of the three.

In addition to the trio of stars there are excellent cameos by Bruno Bichir as Zoe's gay confidant, Angélica Aragón as the mother of the men whose greatest need is for grandchildren, Gaby Espino as the housekeeper Laura, and Beto Cuevas as the priest who is not only a friend of the family but hears the secrets of each in the confessional. The cinematography is lush and evocative in the competent hands of Andrés Sánchez and the tension of the story is well underscored by the music of Angelo Milli. For this viewer LA MUJER DE MI HERMANO is a classy film that brings attention to the many fine new works coming from Latin American cinema. It is well worth revisiting. Grady Harp

Erotically-charged pot boiler has exotic beauty Barbara Mori yearning for love and passion from her cold and seemingly unfeeling husband (Christian Meier). They both want children, but it seems that Meier is unable to impregnate his wife. The fact that Meier will literally only make love to his wife on Saturday nights and would rather pleasure himself adds to their marital tension. Soon Mori starts hanging out with Meier's younger artist brother (Manolo Cardona). It appears immediately that their relationship is going beyond what it should. The womanizing Cardona (who makes it clear to girlfriend Gaby Espino that he is not interested in anything having to do with marriage or children) quickly starts his routine with Mori and she begins to fall for him as friction grows by leaps and bounds between the two brothers. Mori finds solace with gay friend Bruno Bichir who seems to be the most reliable male influence in her chaotic life. Soon everything becomes heated and complicated with Mori in the middle of an emotional firestorm that is about to consume all the players found within. Present fireworks are also met with past family secrets that come to the forefront. "La Mujer De Mi Hermano" ("My Brother's Wife") is a highly interesting feature-length soap opera (which actually makes sense considering Mori and Meier's professional backgrounds) that works due to Jaime Bayly's dominant script concerning failed Catholicism (priest Beto Cuevas being a major role player here) and forced family obligations in the Hispanic world (from Angelica Aragon who yearns for grandchildren from her two sons). First-time feature director Ricardo de Montreuil has a firm grasp on his story and he is not afraid to let Mori (who is breathtakingly gorgeous) dominate the action and be the central focus. An international flair all the way as the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia all had a hand in the final product. While flawed, it still produces sparks and definitely an extreme heat. 4 stars out of 5.

I have watched so many nice movies from Argentina, Mexico and Peru that I could never expect a so terrible film like this, particularly as the plot could have been worked as an exciting production. With an absolutely ridiculous screenplay, full of awful dialogs, "La mujer de mi hermano" is a harsh failure, quite disappointing. Even though actors are not bad, their performance is not good enough to reverse the disaster caused by a bad story. As the film advances, one becomes more and more irritated by the so obvious events presented in a boring chain of clichés and unacceptably absurd situations. When the dramatic changes happen in the second third part of the movie, it is far from enough to make it a good film. Bárbara Mori is a beautiful actress; that does not make Zoe a good character.

Without writing boring redundant reviews and quotes. I would simply say I watch dozens of movies on a monthly basis, and this is the first "Subtitled" movie I've ever watched from beginning to end.

I was simply hypnotized, and before I knew it, the movie was over.

It did have a few predictable scenes but hey what movie doesn't. It could have been a little longer to enlighten or explain a few things like the husbands background, but oh well...

This is a movie very definitely worth your time. I'd recommend watching it with your better half whomever that may be.:)

I'm going to buy this one and watch it again. Another first for me.

This film is a production that employed actors from various Latin-American countries in order to attract viewers in all Latin America. It's something that should be tried more often. We should organize distribution & production companies in Latin-America to integrate the whole region and give us more opportunities to see Latin American films, because there's such an overload of American films that we in Brazil know much more about Hollywood stars than about our Latin-American neighbours. This said, let's go to the film.

The film is about a triangle love story but it is in some ways unusual -there's no moral preaching and no conventional happy ending. The characters belong to the privileged class and live in a conservative background where the Catholic Church is still a power to reckon with, but the modern world is their real world. They may sometimes go to mass and confession but when conflicts between the two worlds arise their own wishes prevail, in spite of conservative dogmas, and the Church and their icons go to the background.

There was a reviewer that said that the sex scenes were a fill-up and were not necessary at all. I disagree with him. Sex is essential to show the reason why Zoe (gorgeous Barbara Mori) in spite of her conservative upbringing, engages in an affair with her brother-in-law. And the sex scenes are really sensual, showing a woman discovering herself through sexual pleasure. Can someone tell me of any American actress able to do the same in such a sensual way? The acting of the whole cast is excellent, the film has such a good story that manages to keep our interest till the end. I'm not telling you that "La Mujer de mi Hermano" is a masterpiece but certainly it's a very good film.

Other Latin American films I recommend are: "Pantaleon Y las Visitadoras", "Maria Full of Grace", "Nina Santa", "El mismo amor, La misma lluvia", "Y Tu Mama Tambien", "Machuca" and so many others!