Ladrones y mentirosos (2006)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ricardo Méndez Matta

Writers:

Poli Marichal (writer)
Ricardo Méndez Matta (writer)

Release Date:

1 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

"Ladrones & Mentirosos" is the heartrending story of three Puerto Rican families struggling to stay...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Steven Bauer	...	Oscar
Isidro Bobadilla	...	Peña
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Isabel
José Heredia	...	Migue
Daniel Lugo	...	Carmona
Dennis Mario	...	Luijan
Lymari Nadal	...	Marisol
Carlos Paniagua	...	Luisito
Magda Rivera	...	Wanda
Luz María Rondón	...	Doña Norma
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
César Farrait	...	Cheo
Marta Labatut	...	Doña Emma
Flavia Lugo	...	Doña Toya
Carlos Marichal	...	Fiscal Cintrón
Aris Mejias	...	Raquel
René Monclova	...	Juez Cancel
Juan Palerm Nevárez	...	Juez Castromán
Juan Ortiz Jiménez	...	Don Lilo
Arturo Paredes	...	Iván
Gabriela Rosario	...	Wandita
Gilberto Concepción Suárez	...	Cotto
Salvador Tió	...	Rosado

Also Known As:

Thieves and Liars (USA) (festival title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, drug content, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Country:

Puerto Rico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Company:

Ladrones Y Mentirosos

Trivia:

The dock seen in the drug smuggling scene is an actual dock in the town of Fajardo where cocaine is routinely brought in by drug runners in low-lying "Spider" boats such as the one used in the film. The men operating the boat were local fishermen who knew exactly how to conduct the operation. The orange container they carry onto the boat is a fuel tank, which they then take along to the high seas where they meet another boat bringing in the drugs from far away, and which desperately needs to refuel.

Soundtrack:

Despacio

la mala vida

These three tales chronicle the corruption Senor Matta sees in Puerto Rico. Whether it is drug smuggling, graft, or a difficult coming-of-age, each story just gets sadder and sadder.

Not being familiar with Puerto Rican culture I'm not sure how much the influence of the United States can be read into this, other than that the picture conveyed is one of a society that seems to operate out of accommodation to conditions that are not too different from those in the states. Certainly the drug-smuggling aspect is viewed as being middle men between the producers and the Northern public, the ability to fight big corporate/political interests is futile and drugs are corrupting the youth who are growing up in broken families.

The structure is good as these tales unwind in parallel. The unrelenting progression from bad to worse is hard to watch. No one gains much in these stories. No redemption, just more assurance that "life sucks" and the bad life just goes on.