Carlos Bolado Movies

B.Z. Goldberg, an American filmmaker who was raised in Jerusalem and is fluent in both Hebrew and Arabic, returned to the Middle East to help make this documentary, which chronicles his encounters with seven children between the ages of 11 and 13, some Israeli and some Palestinian, who discuss their political views, their thoughts about the ongoing violence in their homelands and the possibility of a lasting peace, and the impact the aggression has had upon them. Encompassing extremists and moderates on both sides of the fence, the seven youngsters are interviewed individually and then brought together, where their common interests become clear -- as well as the fact that it's quite possible they'll never live together in peace. Co-directed by Goldberg with Justine Shapiro and Carlos Bolado, Promises won the Audience Award at the 2001 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A man trying to clear his conscience of a terrible crime goes on a spiritual quest in this ambitious drama from Mexico. Damian Alcazar plays an American artist who was responsible for a hit-and-run accident. Unable to shake the burden of responsibility from his soul, the artist leaves behind his wife and travels to Mexico to visit the grave of his grandmother. Along the way, however, he decides this gesture is not enough, and abandoning his car and leaving sculptured offerings along the way, he makes his way into the mountains where he tries to find the cave paintings of Baja and discover a sense of spiritual peace. Bajo California: El Limite Del Tiempo/Under California: The Limit of Time was the directorial debut of former editor Carlos Bolado, who cut the international hit Como Agua Para Chocolate). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The world of Mexican hippies is explored in this interesting drama. The story moves between the present and the years 1969, and 1975. Alberto is an aging hippy who works at a radio station specializing in "classic rock." The film opens as he is having a bad day. His latest relationship is crumbling and his radio station is closing. He finds an old photograph and begins reminiscing about Laura, his first love, and about the life they lead in a primitive commune. As a young man, Alberto was forced by his parents to marry. He immediately burns his marriage certificate. He and Laura make love beneath a stage while a band plays "Purple Haze". Later he goes to a commune with Laura's best friend. He tries to have Laura simultaneously. Like many old flower-children, Alberto has never outgrown the Sixties. Like a cosmic gypsy, he wanders about chasing his ideals of happiness and freedom. While playing Cream and Traffic albums, he calls to Laura, pleading with her to call the station. It is his last chance at living his former dream. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Forty years in a very dysfunctional marital relationship are covered in this curious black comedy. Beginning the morning after their wedding ceremony, Jacqueline (Socorro Bonilla) and Nicolas (Alonso Echánove) found that they were at odds with each other. Nicolas is irritated to discover that Jacqueline can't cook, and Jacqueline is apalled to discover that Nicolas doesn't want children - now or ever. They drift apart but don't divorce. Nicolas had devoted all his energies to his hardware store business and has moved into real estate, growing shiftier with each passing year. Each of them takes lovers. Jacqueline tries to inspire her lovers to kill her now-despised husband, but somehow every one of their dastardly schemes falls through. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Based on the best-selling novel by Laura Esquival, this internationally popular romantic fable from Mexico centers on a young woman who discovers that her cooking has magical effects. The tale's heroine, Tita, is the youngest of three daughters in a traditional Mexican family. Bound by tradition to remain unmarried while caring for her aging mother, Tita nevertheless falls in love with a handsome young man named Pedro. Pedro returns her affection, but he cannot overcome her family's disapproval, and he instead marries Tita's elder sister. The lovestruck young woman is brutally disappointed, and her sadness has such force that it infects her cooking: all who eat it her feel her heartbreak with the same intensity. This newly discovered power continues to manifest itself after the wedding, as Tita and Pedro, overcome by their denied love, embark on a secret affair. Director Alfonso Arau, Esquival's husband at the time, presents the acts of love and cooking with the same glossy, sensual sheen. Indeed, despite occasional digressions into a magical realist tone, the film often takes on the gloss of Hollywood romance. This combination of traditional melodrama and exotic fairy tale proved extremely popular with audiences, particularly in the United States, where it became one of the highest grossing foreign language films at the time. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi