Opening 12 Dec 2013
Directed by:
Jose Luis Valle
Writing credits:
Jose Luis Valle
Principal actors:
Jesus Padilla, Susana Salazar, Barbara Perrin Rivemar, Sergio Limon, Vera Talaia
Rafael has worked in a light bulb factory for 30 years. He is happily expectant of a nice financial retirement cushion, which doesn’t materialize. His boss tells him that illegal immigrants from El Salvador have no such claims in Mexico. Lidia is Rafael’s former wife. She has worked for 30 years in the household of a rich Mexican, who spends her days in a wheelchair, while she spoils her dog, a beautiful greyhound. The woman dies; the dog inherits the fortune, and Lidia must care for it until its death, in which case Lidia might inherit something. These similar fates bring Rafael and Lidia back together again, as they become more forceful, independent, and ready to actively take over their own lives, instead of passively waiting for rewards to fall from heaven.
I personally liked the beautiful scenery and the dog, which had at least as much personality as the main characters. Perhaps I should feel empathy, but mostly I felt that the film was too long. This showed at the 2013 Berlinale in the Panorama Section. (Becky Tan)
