Mario Zaragoza Movies
A spiritual journey takes a strange and disturbing turn in this drama from Mexican filmmaker Rodrigo Pla. In 1928, Mexico is in a state of political overthrow, with government forces reacting with savage violence against anyone they imagine may harbor revolutionary sympathies. After Elias (Mario Zaragoza) and his wife become parents of a baby boy, their attempt to travel into town to have the child baptized is mistaken for the advance of rebel troops, and soon their village is raised by military police. As Elias and his family run for their lives, he is visited by a vision of the Lord, who condemns him for putting his children and neighbors in harm's way, and Elias is convinced he must atone. Elias leads his family into the desert and he begins building a church, convinced this is the only way he can redeem his family in the eyes of God. But it soon becomes obvious Elias's children do not share his convictions, and the father's devotion begins to resemble madness. Desierto Adentro (aka The Desert Within) was an official selection at the 2008 Guadalajara Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Zaragoza, Diego Cataño, (more)
At a time when the growing chasm between the rich and the poor appears to be slowly tearing Mexico - and many other Latin countries - apart, first time filmmaker Rodrigo Plá highlights just how isolationism breeds fear in many wealthy communities. Alejandro (Daniel Tovar) lives with his father Daniel (Daniel Giménez Cacho) and his mother Mariana Maribel Verdú) in an isolated community known as La Zona. La Zona is home to the most privileged citizens in Mexico, but with all of the gates and closed circuit cameras it feels more like a million dollar prison than a typical neighborhood. Eventually, a group of disadvantaged teenagers manage to break into La Zona. As the members of the community scramble to protect their families at any cost, one of the teenaged burglars, a frightened boy named Miguel (Alan Chávez), seeks cover in the basement of Alejandro's home as his friends scatter. Later, when Alejandro discovers the young fugitive, the privileged boy's growing empathy for the petty thief and murder suspect leads him to question the values imposed on him by his father as well as the many other isolationists who have taught him to fear his fellow countrymen. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Jiménez Cacho, Maribel Verdú, (more)
A young Quinceañera plans to ditch her lavish coming-of-age bash in favor of having fun with friends, only to find that maintaining appearances isn't as simple as she assumed it would be. Paty is about to turn fifteen, and her proud parents are determined to celebrate the big date in style. But when the guests start filing in, all Paty can think about is sneaking out. Will Paty prove capable of charming her family and still having fun with friends, or will her first day as a woman wind up being something she spends her entire adulthood trying to forget. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ilean Almaguer, Carmen Madrid, (more)
