Herod's Law (1999)
"La ley de Herodes" (original title)

Mexico, 1949. The fable of a janitor turned Mayor on a little town lost in the Mexican desert, who gradually realizes how far his new acquainted power and corruption can get him.

Director:

Luis Estrada

Writers:

Luis Estrada (screenplay), Luis Estrada (story),

Stars:

Damián Alcázar, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Delia Casanova

20 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Damián Alcázar	...	Juan Vargas
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	López (as Pedro Armendáriz)
Delia Casanova	...	Rosa
Juan Carlos Colombo	...	Ramírez
Alex Cox	...	Gringo
Miguel Ángel Fuentes	...	Pancho
Noemí García	...	Secretaria
Guillermo Gil	...	Cura
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Gobernador
Leticia Huijara	...	Gloria
Luis de Icaza	...	Alcalde Alfredo García
Eugenia Leñero	...	Esposa del nuevo alcalde
Eduardo López Rojas	...	Doctor
Yari Lorenzo	...	Esmeralda
Pedro Lorza	...	Cadáver

Storyline

After the corrupt former Mayor is killed by the peasants, poor janitor Juan Vargas is appointed new Mayor of a desert town in central Mexico. Although he tries to bring the motto of the ruling party to town (modernity, peace and progress) he realizes soon that there's nothing to do against corruption... except to become corrupt. Step by step, helped by his pistol, Juan Vargas becomes the law and the worst Major in the town's history.

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Plot Keywords:

mexico | corruption | strong sexual content | strong language | female nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language

Details

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

18 February 2000 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Herod's Law

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista Films, Bandidos Films, Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When he meets the Gringo for the first time, Juan Vargas says his name is "Emilio Gabriel Fernández Figueroa" recalling Golden Age's director Emilio Fernández and cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa.

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Quotes

Juan Vargas: No me hables en inglés hijo de la chingada; ahora si, pinche gringo, se acabó la deuda externa!

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Connections

References Los Olvidados (1950)

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Soundtracks

"La cama de piedra"
Performed by Salvador "El Negro" Ojeda

User Reviews

Prisoner of Power

With the sardonic tone of a political cartoon, Luis Estrada skillfully

presents government the way you know it works: standing on

scandal, bribes, brutality and general treachery. Herod's Law is set

at ground zero of political corruption, Mexico's revolutionary party,

PRI. Herod's Law is an excellent balance of farce and bite. Luis

Estrada frames excellent performances from his cast. Damian

Alcazar provides a superb performance as the hapless, dutiful

member of the PRI thrown into a leadership position and is slowly

infected with power and all the neurosis and paranoia symptomatic of a whetted appetite. The story is excellent, the

narrative arc is well-crafted, and performances outstanding. It is

true, however, that the film fails to introduce anything novel.

However these are all considered trademarks in the political

cartoon business. The film deals solely with established

archetypes, it doesn't introduce new concepts or engage with any

unfamiliar issue. It does little beyond reinforcing stereotypes and

confirming preconceived notions. However, the art of the political

cartoon is the playfulness with which the cartoonist employs these

arch characters. Herod's strength is the playfully exaggerated

treatment of the subject. The posture is almost vaudevillesque in

its rhythm. The tone perfectly describes the whirlwind madness

that envelopes a man as he descends from idealist to practicing

politician.

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