Cilantro y perejil (1998)

This is a comedy about couples within the same family, striken by crisis, leading to the philosophical and practical question: is it worthwhile to stay together? Susana and Carlos have been... See full summary »

Director:

Rafael Montero

Writers:

Cecilia Pérez Grovas, Carolina Rivera

Stars:

Arcelia Ramírez, Demián Bichir, Germán Dehesa

9 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arcelia Ramírez	...	Susana Limón
Demián Bichir	...	Carlos Rodríguez
Germán Dehesa	...	Psiquiatra
Rodolfo Arias	...	Enrique
Maya Mishalska	...	Vicky
Juan Manuel Bernal	...	Jorge
Alpha Acosta	...	Nora (as Alpha)
Angélica Aragón	...	Teresa
Alfredo Sevilla	...	Rodrigo
Leticia Huijara	...	Melita
Plutarco Haza	...	Francisco
Mercedes Pascual	...	Adela
Alejandro Bichir	...	Genaro
Jesús Ochoa	...	Capitán
Juan Carlos Colombo	...	Arizmendi

Storyline

This is a comedy about couples within the same family, striken by crisis, leading to the philosophical and practical question: is it worthwhile to stay together? Susana and Carlos have been married for ten years. He works all day to survive the economic crisis, and she leaves him. Her younger sister, Nora, films the separation for a school project, and tries to save her own relationship with Jorge, a young rock and roll musician. Even the children of Susana and Carlos are not spared the conflicts. And Adela, Susana's grandmother, finds love with Genaro, an antiques aficionado. The answers and conclusions in the film are fun, unpredictable, and very human.

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Plot Keywords:

couple | love | human relationship | homosexual

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and related dialogue

Details

Official Sites:

IMCINE

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

12 September 1998 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

Recipes to Stay Together

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constelacion Films, SA de CV, Fondo de Fomento a la Calidad Cinematográfica, Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Susana is at the dating agency, she sees a photo and says that the man in the photo could be her husband's twin brother. The man in the photo is Bruno Bichir (Demián Bichir's brother).

User Reviews

Mexican version of Desperate Housewives, full of scientific thesis upon Love

Recipes to Stay Together (Cilantro y Perejil) is a movie about love and love after marriage, which are two separate issues according to the narrator(a psychoanalyst).

We meet a married couple arguing on each others' opinions and negligence as if they are playing a sitcom episode. As the story progresses they separate, so the most popular clichés begins to occur: Financial sharing, children sharing, responsibility sharing... The woman starts to believe she is not yet found her real love, and to believe perfect man exists for her. Also the man starts to have flirtations with new women, love affairs with his secretary. Love becomes a shield against loneliness, and a way to escape from the truth that they are meant for each other. Anytime they coincide together, they become jealous of each other's happiness, knowing that in fact they are not happy separately.

With a very trite plot and nothing new, merely acting comes to the focus. Because the movie is full of sexualities(not nudity) viewers' attention is pointed to the actors. Musical score helps us out to put some more concern into the husband's and wife's thoughts and expectations. As an optimistic statement says that everything in life deserves a second chance; whereupon we find the sweethearts coming back together through another coincidence.

Love is being analyzed within monogamy, despite the lovers' betrayals. Each of them betrayed the other to end up with accepting they are still in love.

In conclusion, the only good reason to watch this movie is if you believe in monogamy and think that way as everybody loves just once in a lifetime.