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Review #120 of 365
Film: La Mujer de Mi Hermano [R] 95 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $10.00
Where Viewed: AMC Loews Meridian 16, Seattle, WA
When 1st Seen: 11 May 2006
Time: 2:30 p.m.
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DVD | soundtrack |
Truly a Latin American sensation, La Mujer de Mi Hermano (My Brother’s Wife) has broken box office records in many central and south American nations. Now, it enters the US market with subtitles in English. There are many things to take note of in this film, and it might help to provide just a glimpse into the backgrounds, more so than I would do with films from the USA or UK for example, of some of the people involved (the actors, the composer, and the director) as there are some significant things about them of interest.
The story, which in many ways, would not be considered that much of a break out in a nation that took to Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica last year, surrounds the growing affair between a woman, Zoe, and her brother-in-law, Gonzalo under the watchful nose of her husband, Ignacio. Things start of with major disappointment in Zoe and Ignacio’s life due to Ignacio’s infertility and Zoe’s overwhelming and consuming desire to have a child. As the story unfolds, though, there seems to be more than Ignacio’s infertility that is driving Zoe into the arms and love of his brother, a painter with little regard for consistent relationships. A twist or two including one that is immeasurably dark, shows that Ignacio has issues that run far deeper than his conscious mind will permit him to access. These, unfortunately, have played a part in shaping the person that Gonzalo has turned out to be. Poor Zoe sort of gets stuck in the middle between them literally and figuratively. In some ways the plot is reminiscent of a soap opera on Viagra®. The film is good entertainment, but not something that will stick with you a long time.
"...a good way to spend a rainy afternoon when you want to see something a little juicy, a little spicy, and characteristic of Latin American soap operas."The music is outstanding and reminded me occasionally of Requiem for a Dream’s soundtrack. The composer is Berklee College of Music-educated, Venezuelan-born Angelo Milli who has done a bunch of work for other Latin American films and MTV. Some of he music is haunting, some stirring, but all is beautiful.
The acting in the film is first rate. Zoe is played by Uruguay’s Bárbara Mori (picture a brunette Heather Locklear with green eyes and an even more knockout smile). Having acted most of her life, she got her first big break with the South American soap opera, “In the North of Heart”. From there, it was movies and other shows on her way to play the brother’s wife. She brings a vulnerability roughed with confidence to the role that really brings Zoe out as a dynamic, vivacious, yet sensitive woman. It is very hard not to fall in love with her in this film. The very famous Peruvian actor Christian Meier plays her husband Ignacio. His role in the film Don’t Tell Anyone apparently helped to move his career to the next level and led eventually to this role. Here he plays a fabulously successful businessman with a gorgeous wife and beautiful home, but he has a little problem when it comes to showing his wife the affection she needs and a penchant for having his back waxed—don’t ask. Let’s just say it was nothing compared to the waxing Steve Karel got in 40 Year-old Virgin. Meanwhile, he only seems able to want to have intimate relations with his wife on Saturdays. Hmm. Sr. Meier does an amazing job with his emotional state trying to be calm and cool and collected while watching his life fall apart piece by piece as he is unable to reconcile his deepest and darkest secrets with his desires for a successful and happy future. Fortunately, Manolo Cardona, one of Latin America’s hottest stars (recently he hosted Telemundo’s version of “Temptation Island”) comes to Zoe’s rescue as Gonzalo, Ignacio’s even hairier younger brother. Mr. Cardona also did a wonderful job with his character of the bemused artist who finds comfort in the company and love of mujeres bonitas (beautiful women) today as long as they are sure to go away the next day and let him make a new encounter tomorrow. All of this occurs under the watchful direction of Jaime Bayly’s script by award-winning MTV video director Ricardo de Montreuil. Occasionally, the movie plods along a bit; but, for the most part the direction is quite good.
Overall, La Mujer de Mi Hermano is a good way to spend a rainy afternoon when you want to see something a little juicy, a little spicy, and characteristic of Latin American soap operas.
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La Mujer De Mi Hermano [DVD](2005) DVD
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