Y Tu Mama Tambien Movie Reviews

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.

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Y Tu Mama Tambien ( And Your Mother Too ) Rated R for strong sexual content involving teens, drug use and language. Runtime: 105 min Language: Spanish Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón

This movie was released in 2002 and I watched it with a group of friends on DVD when I was just into varsity. And I don’t know how to actually explain my reaction towards it. By Indian standards it was bold both visually and in dialogue but over all I must say it was amazing. Taking a recent Film into discussion I would like to say that how a film abundant with a theme closely related to sex and libido may be presented in a true cinematic way. Considering some people’s comments on my review on Rituparno Ghosh’s ‘Antarmahal’, I would like to request them to go through my review of this film and watch it too.

The Journey

‘Y tu’ is a film based on a journey, both internal and external. You know what teenage boys of 17 can be driven by? Hormones, adventure and intense friendships. Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) set off with their girlfriends to Italy. On the way they, become infatuated with Luisa (Maribel Verdu), an ''older'' woman of 28 married to an writer. The 2 boys and the older woman venture into a journey which reveals more than the ordinary. You will find this sort of stuff in modern writers like Joseph Conrad where a journey becomes a journey of self revealation.

The Script

The dialogue is a strange type in this film. I felt so till one of my friends (studying world cinema) said that the dialogue is typical of young Mexicans. It was both sharp and clever. Cuaron, the director manages to make the movie poetic and magical even while creating a subtle criticism to the society in Mexico.

The 2 Friends & the Woman

Tenoch is the son of a rich corrupt politician and a superficial high-society lady. His good social position is made clear by his second name ‘Iturbide’. Julio in contrast belong to the lower middle class with a surname as’Zapata’. He has been raised by a single mother. Luisa is an orphan from Spain, married to one of Tenoch's cousins. All 3 meet for the first time at a Mexican wedding (with the president and his bodyguards in attendance). The boys invite Luisa to spend a few days camping at a beach called ''Boca del Cielo'' (Heaven's Mouth) — which they just make up. Soon after she receives some bad news(husband has been infidel) and decides to accept the boys' invitation. Thus begins the journey.

The Title ''Y Tu Mama Tambien'' translated from Spanish as ''And Your Mother Too,'' perhaps connotates ''I screwed your mother too''

The Narrator and Actors

The movie has an excellent narration by Daniel Gimenez Cacho Alfonso Cuaron (''Little Princess,'' ''Great Expectations'') handles the talented cast with exquisite realism. Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal look perfect as the two teenagers struggling to find their identity. Maribel Verdu as Luisa proves to be an outstanding.

The Technicalities

Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (''Little Princess,'' ''Sleepy Hollow'') gives the film the natural feeling with the use of natural light. This makes the movie realistic inspite of its dreamy narrative. At times it feels hilarious but has a sociopolitical aspect as well. There are some daring sexual content but the one which will strike you is the 3 way.

The boys compete with each other for the attractive Luisa but once get involved with each other. It’s an exploration and a revelation for them. Luisa’s terminal illness makes her desperate to live life at its full and the boys are obliged to do so by virtue of their age. See this movie with an open mind because it is provocative and created great controversy in the land of its birth. We will be able to identify with it. It’s a 100% original stuff and is almost cinema at its best if not the best.

One more thing, directors like Mr.Rituporno Ghosh should watch it too. At least to know that exceess of pointless sexual content do not a good movie make.

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