Great heart-breaking drama.
Somewhat innocent, given the much more crude violence and cruelty depicted in current movies dealing with poverty and the homeless (City of God being a good example). Nonetheless, is exactly that innocence what gives the movie its strength and value. Despite the bad things that the main characters (a young illiterate jobless man and his pal, a runaway child) go trough the story (including being robbed, wounded, sent to prison and having nowhere to live), somehow they keep a good deal of innocence, an enthusiastic approach to life and the faith and strength of knowing that everything, somehow, will be better in the near future for them. It makes you think that sometimes, even little things like going to the fair and riding the roller coaster with a friend can light up the otherwise cold and sad reality of having no family, a job or a place to sleep.
It is also interesting the way Mexico City is portrayed in the movie, giving the impression of not only being the background for the story, but making it an essential, living element, almost as another character, indeed, a sinister, cruel and violent one.
Somewhat innocent, given the much more crude violence and cruelty depicted in current movies dealing with poverty and the homeless (City of God being a good example). Nonetheless, is exactly that innocence what gives the movie its strength and value. Despite the bad things that the main characters (a young illiterate jobless man and his pal, a runaway child) go trough the story (including being robbed, wounded, sent to prison and having nowhere to live), somehow they keep a good deal of innocence, an enthusiastic approach to life and the faith and strength of knowing that everything, somehow, will be better in the near future for them. It makes you think that sometimes, even little things like going to the fair and riding the roller coaster with a friend can light up the otherwise cold and sad reality of having no family, a job or a place to sleep.
It is also interesting the way Mexico City is portrayed in the movie, giving the impression of not only being the background for the story, but making it an essential, living element, almost as another character, indeed, a sinister, cruel and violent one.
