Nov 24, 2005 08:21 AM
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(Updated Nov 24, 2005 08:33 AM)
Y Tu Mamma Tambien(And Your Mamma too) is a small Mexican film, which has become a classic of sorts with many critics and film buffs.
It is a joy ride of a film and a compelling teenage growing up drama about sex and sexual exploration, which many will be able to relate to, after all, we all were once teenagers and have gone through this phase in our life where our hormones are on overdrive and we are full of youthful energy. It is also one of the most difficult times in our lives, as we go through so many emotional and physical changes and begin to try new things in life, which as we know from our past mistakes are not always the best things - such as drugs, sex, alcohol etc.
This is a simple story about such adolescents, Tenoch and Julio, who are best buddies who do everything together who are only beginning to become sexually active. After they see their girlfriends off to Italy, they meet an older woman Luisa at a family event, who is the wife of their cousin, although Luisa last saw Tenoch when he was a child! They try to flirt with her and invite her on a trip with them to a beach, Heaven's mouth, which they actually make up on the spot to get her to come along and ultimately have sex with her. Luisa declines, but a phone call later by her nasty writer husband confessing he just cheated on her, changes her mind and the next morning she calls Tenoch and agrees to the trip. As soon as the boys have the bare essentials they need to survive - drugs, booze and condoms - off they go.
The trip is a very intimate exploration of sex . Luisa is not oblivious to the fact that they are sexually interested in her, in fact the boys don't know it yet, but Luisa also has sex with them on her mind! Initially, everything they talk about is sex and they talk about in a very casual, explicit and frivolous manner. As soon as they stop at a motel and rent out rooms, they already think they've sown seen the seed of lust in Luisa, and now having learned that their cousin has cheated on Luisa, they think they can ''soothe her pain'' - by scewing her. When they arrive at her room and peak through the window their libido probably deflates when they see Lusia is sobbing in her solitude. As the trip continues they learn that there is another dimension to sex - relationships. They also learn that sex could be a force so destructive it could destroy their friendship.
It is interesting how this film begins with both the boys and Luisa with the intention of sex on their mind, but their attitudes are completely different. For the boys it is initially nothing more than lust and some adventure, but for Luisa it is about exploration and perhaps even filling a sexual vacuum her husband left unfulfilled for her. Somewhere along the way both attitudes meet.
The actors do a great job and keep you entertained throughout, the scenes where they fight with each other are particularly compelling, and the dialogues are very snappy and funny. The script is good, but I felt the occasional voiceovers explaining everything and giving unnecessary information to be quite intrusive and perturbing at times and particularly weak storytelling. I also felt that the climax of the film ended on an unnecessary negative note and did not think it was properly built up.
Technically, the look of the film is basic, but suitable. It is shot mostly in dry desert terrain and roads which do make it look interesting. A few technical problems include shaky shots(i.e. no tripod)
I recommend this film to a mature audience. There is a lot of nudity, some scenes of sex and very explicit and frequent sexual language, but unlike the recent slew of sex comedies and dramas in India, this one does not turn into meaningless skin show and softporn. It is supported by some very enjoyable drama and acting.
