Un mundo maravilloso (2006)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Luis Estrada

Writers:

Luis Estrada (writer)
Jaime Sampietro (writer)

Release Date:

17 March 2006 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A fairy tale about the political and socioeconomic realities of Mexico.

Plot Keywords:

Satire | Socialism | Future | Neorealism

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Damián Alcázar	...	Juan Pérez
Antonio Serrano	...	Ministro
Cecilia Suárez	...	Rosita
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Compadre Filemón
Jesús Ochoa	...	El Tamal
Silverio Palacios	...	El Azteca
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Director del Periódico
Carlos Arau	...	Joven Reportero
Jorge Zárate	...	Lalo, Secretario Particular
Guillermo Gil	...	Cara de Rata - padre de Rosa
Max Kerlow	...	Sacerdote
Carmen Beato	...	La Nena - esposa del Ministro
Larry Silverman	...	Doctor Goldberg
José María Yazpik	...	Asesor Financiero
Plutarco Haza	...	Asesor Político

Also Known As:

A Wonderful World (USA) (literal English title)
Un hombre ejemplar (Mexico) (working title)

Runtime:

Mexico:118 min | Argentina:118 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Mexico:B | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Altavista Films

Trivia:

When Juan Perez (Damian Alcazar) is interrogated, after being asked his alias, he says, among others, "Varguitas", which was Alcazar's character in a previous movie, “La Ley de Herodes”, with the same director, Luis Estrada.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The portrait that appears in the house of the politician Lascuraian, the Secretary of Economy of México, is, in fact, the portrait of Porfirio Díaz, president of México (1877-1911), and not from José Ives Limantour, Secretary of Economy of México in Diaz administration

Leftist?

With regard to the comment entitled "Political propaganda by leftist artists" I'd like to point some things out. I saw this movie when it came out a few months ago in Mexico, where I had been studying all year. Like one of Estrada's first movies (La ley de Herodes), this one is also a severe political critique that attacks both the former PRI government (supposedly left wing) and the current PAN government (supposedly right wing). I think it should be noted, however, that while Fox's victory 6 years ago marked a BIG step towards political progress for Mexico, overall Mexicans are disappointed in the administration and the lack of significant changes that followed Fox's entrance into the office (not all entirely his fault, of course, given the left over PRI population that still has power in the government). And even though the PAN politicians might have cleaner hands than former PRI politicians, I don't think that the majority of the people in Mexico really distinguish between them that way. That is to say, I really think they just assume that all politicians, regardless of their party, are stealing money. Everyone I talked to while I was down there said they didn't have the slightest idea who they were going to vote for because all of the candidates were unappealing and untrustworthy, and it was all going to come down to the question, "Who's the lesser evil?"

So this leftist propaganda seems unlikely to me since López Obrador would be included in that category; even more so since he was originally a member of the PRI, and the PRD (his current party) is really just considered PRI #2, composed of unhappy PRI members who weren't being chosen for the positions they wanted. So, to sum all that up, the movie is critiquing Mexican politics in general and no party or politician is free from scrutiny here.

And finally, it's worth a rental if for no other reason than Damian Alcazar is absolutely wonderful!