Laura Santullo Movies

Ten Mexican filmmakers consider their nation on the centennial of the revolution in this anthology feature. For Revolucion, ten directors were asked to each contribute a ten minute film that in some way dealt with Mexico, its people, its national character and the legacy of the revolution. Actor Gael García Bernal directed Lucio, in which a young boy who is practicing the flag salute for school is confronted by his irreverent brother and must consider his views on patriotism and faith. Mariana Chenillo's La Tienda de Raya (aka The Estate Store) concerns a woman working for a discount store that pays her in company script rather than cash, making it even harder to climb out of poverty. Fernando Eimbcke directed La Bienvenida (aka The Welcome), in which a small town musician patiently waits for his opportunity to perform for a visiting dignitary. Two children come to the rescue of a priest tied to a tree in El Cura Nicolas Colgado (aka The Hanging Priest), a surreal episode by Amat Escalante. Rodrigo García's La 7th y Alvarado (aka At 7th and Alvarado) is an impressionistic piece in which the revolutionaries who fought for freedom and justice in Mexico pay a visit to modern day Los Angeles. Diego Luna's Pacifico tells the story of a man who takes some time off from his family only to discover how much they mean to him. A man trying to get medical help for his injured friend is forced to take desperate action in Gerardo Naranjo's R-100. Rodrigo Plá's 30/30 follows an elderly relative of Pancho Villa who is invited to a public celebration of the revolution but doesn't get the reception he expects. Este Es Mi Reino (aka This Is My Kingdom) by Carlos Reygadas observes a curiously aggressive holiday celebration in which natives and American visitors go on a tear while the community's poor look on. And in Lindo y Querido (aka Beautiful and Beloved) from Patricia Riggen, a family of Mexican expatriates living in America head home to honor an elder's final request. Revolucion received its world premiere at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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, Rovi