La ley de Herodes (1999)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Luis Estrada

Writers:

Luis Estrada (screenplay)
Luis Estrada (story)

Release Date:

18 February 2000 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Mexico | Corruption | Group Sex | Strong Sexual Content | Prostitute

Awards:

20 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Herod's Law (Europe: English title) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Mexico:C

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, México D.F., Mexico

Company:

Alta Vista Films

Trivia:

Was the first Mexican film that shown the name of the official Party (Partido revolucionario Institucional or P.R.I.). In past times, filmmakers had to change the name of the party to avoid the censorship.

Movie Connections:

References Los olvidados (1950)

Soundtrack:

Que me lleve la tristezza

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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