Arráncame la vida (2008) Reviews

• A dramatic display to a real world that Mexico has lived…

  Nazi_Fighter_David2008-09-14

  Mexican director Roberto Sneider wrote the script of "Tear This Heart Out" ("Arráncame la Vida") with the author and winner of the Mazatlán Prize for Literature for the best book of the year Ángeles Mastretta published in Mexico in 1985 partially inspired by the life of Maximino Ávila Camacho, a four-star general in Mexico's revolutionary forces, brother of Manuel Ávila Camacho who was President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946... The film opens with the beautiful Catalina Guzmán (Ana Claudia Talancón) marrying at her early age a charismatic and cunning general named Andrés Ascencio (Daniel Giménez Cacho), much older than her… Dazzled by his world, Catalina escorts him on his political campaigns, perceiving at his side the intriguing political systems to obtain social justice... Catalina, a smart but not an educated young woman, dedicates years of her youth to a 'loving' husband… She comes to Puebla to hear from the voice of her man, the governor of the beautiful city, that soon she will be the First Lady of Mexico as he considers himself the best-qualified candidate to win the race for the Presidency... But one day, Catalina finds out that her arrogant and prepotent macho man is cheating on her with several women and has several children out of that relationship… But in spite of all that, and observing her husband's pervert and bad manners, Catalina continues to live with Andrés, to bear his two children, to train his others children in her family, to serve him as his adviser and to guide him to win elections, taking intense pleasure from that attitude… Nevertheless she learns that life and power are not always so pink… There is a scene during her pregnancy, where we saw her detecting that she is totally neglected… So, for the first time we watch her taking pleasure in having a love affair with a teenager who cherished her dearly… But the movie takes a dramatic turn when Catalina falls really in love with a concertmaster... And it was forbidden for her to fall in love! And she executes her cruel vengeance on Andrés sharing the musician' bed ignoring the predestined course of his future fate… And here Roberto Sneider's motion picture clearly comes off with three significant national old traditions: the 1930's post-revolutionary Mexico, the very crucial point for the Mexican girl, the "rite of passage," and the traditional macho man… The film is a love story through which three main characters are important for the viewer: Andrés, the charming officer, the great orator with the voice so thrilling and so impacting… His wife Catalina divulging how meaningless and insincere his promises are… And Carlos (Jose María de Tavira), the leader of the orchestra, the future of a new Mexico, the rebel, and what Mexico is expecting from her younger men… The motion picture presents the concept of the long-suffering Mexican woman vanishing here with Catalina as seen powerful of character, efficacious and extreme in having an affair with the man she deeply falls in love, intense in degree to accept whatever she is asked from her lover to carry out… Her representation of the submissive wife, in a macho world where women are suppressed and their voices not heard, has fallen with her determined and ambivalent character here, as near Carlos, Catalina is another woman who wishes, requests, and desires intensely the enjoyment of her personal liberty and personal efficacy… The result is a fine rich movie with many captivating visuals of the stunning state of Puebla, and definitely a must-see, at least for the Mexican viewers…

• Best Mexican production in years.

  f_herrero2008-09-18

  Period pieces in Mexico have been well done almost always, but productions of period pieces had been only made for soap operas, never before had a movie production been so well done. Although I never read the novel by Angeles Mastretta, I knew it was somehow accurate, since I hear she is a direct descendant from the story's protagonist Catalina -names are changed in the novel and film. This is shown by the richness of dialogs and curious anecdotes which constantly make you wonder which parts were completely true and which sprung from the author's vivid imagination. Apart from the richness from the story and how the storytelling evolves smoothly throughout the film, the production design makes you feel completely Mexico in the 1930s. The costumes are great also. The direction is almost perfect. Roberto Sneider takes you by surprise first at about minute 20, then slowly and smoothly hypnotizes you and never lets go. Much credit goes to the lead Ana Claudia Talancon whose good looks and very well developed character arc make you fall at first for her beauty and innocence, and later for her humanity, courage and cleverness. Daniel Gimenez Chaco's performance deserves praise also. He captures the Mexican Macho Persona perfectly, his cynical viewpoint of things and comments, bring humor to a character who would be otherwise despicable. Second characters like de Tavira's and others feel a bit underdeveloped, but in the end all actors do great jobs with their little screen time and their contribution suffice. The drama never falls for the temptation to go overly melodramatic and dialogs are kept smart enough - even ironic at times - to make this movie a fresh and satisfying take on the Mexican way of life. It actually feels so accurate that deep thoughts of "nothing has ever changed really" do spring a few times. The music and editing are very well done also. Congratulations to everybody involved!

• You shouldn't miss this movie

  sopranodiva2008-09-18

  I read Angeles Mastreta's book when it first came out and I just loved it. She's written some more afterwards, but I never really liked them as I enjoyed "Arrancame la vida". When I knew that a movie about this story was going to be done I read the book again, and to be honest I went to see the movie with the intention of reinforce that "stories are always better read in books, than depicted in movies". Well I was wrong. To my agreeable surprise I enjoyed every minute of it, just as much as I did reading the book for the first time. You easily digest a witty yet sarcastic story, picturing a post revolutionary country society that grabs you from the very first second. All the charactersare very well pictured and the scenery is just perfect. Thank you for this kind of Mexican cinema: enjoyable, brilliant and proudly capable of the quality to be appreciated by any kind of audience of the world.

• Solid storytelling, good performances, flawless directing and production

  esquizzo2008-09-12

  (Stupid IMDb. It doesn't get that I'm trying to type this comment in Spanish. OK. Here we go again in English) First, two strong statements: I have not read the book and I'm from Puebla (the city where the story takes place). I don't know how good of an adaptation this movie is, but as a cinematic product, "Arráncame la vida" works just fine. The leading actors, as well as the rest of the cast, offer solid performances. Giménez Cacho, as always, portrays Andrés Ascencio very nicely. He depicts a son of-a-bitch general, who -despite this characteristics or because of these- is highly enjoyable. The macho humor that this character uses, gives movement to the story. On top of that, we have Ana Claudia Talancón, the astonishing Catalina Guzmán. I'm not the biggest fan of her but I have to say her performance is flawless. The references to the "poblano factor" (poblanez) gives a proper setting to the actions of the story, which mentions a lot of local moments and characters of the 30's and 40's. However, the universal value of the movie (and the novel, I guess) remains. Caciques, corruption and battles over power exist everywhere, not only in México but all over the world. About directing and production, again, flawless. With a nearly 7 million dollar budget, "Arráncame la vida" is the most expensive movie in México to this date. However it has the quality of any Hollywood picture that surely would need way more than that to achiev the same results. The cinematography and the powerful music give the final touches to a production which, I'm sure, the audience from Puebla enjoyed and related to their own experiences and long time memories. Some nervous laughs could be heard in a packed premier at Puebla with members of the finest families of the region. You go guess what they thought of this portrait... Despite of that, people would be satisfied with the story from what I could see and hear. Summing up: I strongly recommend this picture. It is not the "biggest Mexican picture" but, no doubt, is a solid project with high production values. I've never read any of Mastretta's books but now I want to start.

• Tear out my life!!

  jotix1002010-02-13

  Angeles Mastretta's 1985 novel, "Arrancame la vida", was a huge success in Mexico as well as in many Spanish speaking countries. The title, which can be translated as "tear out my life", was also the title of a famous Mexican song, which is heard at the end of the film sung by Tona La Negra, one of the best Mexican singers of all times. The narrative centers around Catalina Guzman. As the story begins, she is a young woman that is dazzled by a much older man, Andres Ascencio. They get married, much against her father's objections. Catalina is not prepared for what her life will turn out with her new status. Andres, an ambitious, and well connected man in Puebla, decides to run for governor of the state. Before getting married Catalina had consulted a seer to see what her future will be and the fact she wanted to 'feel'. The woman's advice is a blunt one: she will use her sex in order to fulfill herself. A prophetic omen, indeed. Right after Catalina and Andres have their first child, he comes in with two other children he had sired with another woman. Catalina, who is inexperienced, plus having to rear her own infant, is confused and resentful of the strangers that are thrown into her lap; a new responsibility she didn't count on. Andre, a womanizer, will bring another daughter into the household. Andres decides to take the family to Mexico City where he will be closer to influential people as he wishes to run for the presidency, eventually. Walking into the Bellas Artes auditorium one day, Catalina watches a rehearsal of the local symphony orchestra. The director, Carlos Vives, gets annoyed with her presence. He wants her to step to the rear of the theater where she will not distract the players. That meeting will mark a turning point in Catalina's life. Unfortunately, Catalina doesn't realize how her amorous involvement with Carlos will change her life as well as cause his death. This epic account of Ms. Mastretta's novel was written and directed by Roberto Sneider. The film gets the basic points of the novel in cinematic terms resulting in an engrossing story that, although predictable up to a point, doesn't prepare the viewer for the way Catalina's resolve will free her at the end. Ana Claudia Talancon, who we first met in "El crimen del padre Amaro", makes an excellent impression with her Catalina. Ms. Talancon goes from a young woman to a sophisticated society lady effortlessly. Equally good is the Andres of Daniel Gimenez Cacho, a wonderful actor that always delivers. Jose Maria De Tavira appears as Carlos Vives, the orchestra leader that falls in love with Catalina. Javier Aguirresarobe's cinematography takes us to places in Mexico that are overlooked by most of his fellow cameramen. The music by Leonardo Heilblum and Jacobo Lieberman does wonder for the picture. Roberto Sneider, an actor turned director, shows he has a talent that needs to be seen.