La hija del caníbal

(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 .

Cecilia Roth (Almodovar's All About My Mother, Dark Habits) is an older woman whose husband mysteriously disappears in an airport when they are travelling to Rio. She finds he has 20 million pesos in his safe deposit box to pay ransom.

With Felix (Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa) at her side, she manages to try and find out what happened to her husband. She also enlists the aid of young Adrian (Kuno Becker) in the adventure. The three of them are certainly worth watching.

Felix is an old leftist who is handy with a gun, and Adrian is looking for some fun with a woman almost twice his age. She definitely doesn't look bad for that age either! It would be helpful to be more versed in Mexican politics to enjoy this.

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

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Antonio Serrano has to be commended in bringing this film to the screen. Unfortunately, the finished product leaves a lot to be desired. The script based on Rosa Montero's novel, The Daughter of the Cannibal, turns out to be an enigma with a lot of questions not being answered.

Cecilia Roth makes this film comes alive. She is the only thing going for this strange tale of deceit that, at times, doesn't make a lot of sense. Ms Roth is the only excuse for seeing this uneven movie.

The underlying theme is how greed affects innocent people. Also, how Lucia's marriage of more than ten years has been a sham. Ramon, her missing husband, obviously, can't perform in the sack. Cecilia is a very unfulfilled woman until the 'hunky' Felix comes into the picture and is able to get some life out this woman. Felix awakes feelings within Lucia she didn'n know she had, but alas, it's too late for her to undergo another relationship, with Felix, or anyone else.

This film kept reminding this viewer of another, and better Mexican film, "Y tu mama tambien", in that there's is a trio embarked in a quest along the Mexican highways. Lucia, Lucia, never achieves the magic of that other picture, but it's a very nice effort, which keeps the viewer hoping it will get there as well.