Carlos Carrera Movies
- 2009
A production of Paramount Pictures Mexico with an all-star Hispanic cast including Jimmy Smits, Joaquin Cosio and Ana de la Reguera, the tense thriller El Traspatio concerns a spree of serial killings in the North Mexico border town of Juarez that prompts an elaborate, complex homicide investigation. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2006
A handful of desperate characters sort out the loose ends of their lives in a place as run down as their lives in this drama from Mexico. Parian is a dingy town forgotten by progress, where locals who are down on their luck drown their sorrows at the village tavern. One of the regulars is Laura (Ana Graham), who has been trying to finds out what's become of her child and spouse who've mysteriously disappeared. Another steady customer, Ismael (Ricardo Blume) shot a young man five decades earlier, and has come to town hoping to mend fences with the victim's still-grieving brother. Antonio (Dagoberto Gama) tries to drink away the memory of the wife who abandoned him and has left him lonely and without a child to carry his name. As the barkeep doles out liquor and sinks deeper into the collective depression around her, a powerful rainstorm strands the customers in the bar, where emotions soon rise to a fever pitch. Mezcal received its world premiere at the 2006 Karlovy Very Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ana Graham, Dagoberto Gama, (more)
A priest discovers the path of virtue can be steep, and temptation can demand a heavy price, in this controversial drama from Mexico. Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) is a young Catholic priest whose mentor, the Bishop (Ernesto Gomez Cruz), expects great things from him. However, like all priests, Amaro must first be assigned where he is needed most, which leads him to the small rural community of Los Reyes, where Amaro is to assist Father Benito (Sancho Gracia). To his shock, Amaro discovers Benito is hardly following Holy Law -- he's having an affair with Sanjuanera (Angelica Aragon), a woman who runs a local restaurant, and he's been helping a drug dealer launder his profits in exchange for large donations to the church, which Benito feels is justified as the funds are being used to build a hospital and orphanage for the poor. Amaro is disgusted with Benito's actions, but he soon discovers his own weaknesses when he falls in love with Amelia (Ana Claudia Talancon), Sanjuanera's teenage daughter. As Amelia finds herself falling for Amaro, she breaks off her relationship with Ruben (Andres Montiel), a reporter. Ruben responds by publishing a story which reveals the details of Benito's dealings with the drug dealers; Benito in turn tries to lay the blame at the feet of noble Father Natalio (Damian Alcazar), whose work with local peasants has been wrongly interpreted as supporting armed revolutionary factions. As Amaro tries desperately to distance himself from the growing scandal, he receives shocking news from Amelia when he learns she's pregnant with his child. The Crime of Father Amaro's portrayal of corruption within the Catholic Church led to an outcry from Catholic organizations, both in Mexico and the United States, where they attempted to organize a boycott of the film. However, the tactic failed in Mexico, where the controversy helped to boost ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing Mexican film ever in its native country. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gael García Bernal, Sancho Gracia, (more)
- 1998
Carlos Carrera directed this Mexican drama that begins in 1928 when 13-year-old longshoreman's son Eliseo (Daniel Acuna) dreams of leaving the southeastern port of Progreso like his sister Magda (who escapes with charismatic circus acrobat Roy). Eliseo loses his virginity to his schoolteacher Felipa (Blanca Guerra), but she becomes the target of accusations and is driven out of town. Eliseo then becomes a twosome with Lupita, daughter of his father's boss. The story flashes forward to 1937, when the adult Eliseo (Mario Zaragoza) has married Lupita. After Felipa returns to the town to build a school, she and Eliseo once again become intimate, and problems erupt. Full symphonic score by Cuban composer José Maria Vitier. Shown at the 1998 Toronto film Festival and in competition at the 1998 San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
When he's not in his store working with his sharp-tongued, disagreeable sister, Benjamin, who never married, hangs out with his cronies. However, whenever the lovely and virginal teenager Natividad walks by, a hush falls over his group. Benjamin's gaze, in particular, remains fixed on her departing figure. The lads have noticed this and teasingly suggest that the overweight, fiftyish bachelor should kidnap her. One day, he actually does this. However, once he has her in his rooms he is much too shy to do anything with her. On the other hand, the far-from-innocent Natividad considers him to be a much better catch than anyone else she has seen in town (including her current boyfriend), and he appears to be someone who can be easily manipulated, so she refuses to leave. Instead, she quickly makes herself the dominant figure in his household. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eduardo Lopez Rojas, Arcelia Ramirez, (more)
