Cuando tejen las arañas

Cuando tejen las arañas (When the spiders weave) is one of several under-rated and under-appreciated Mexican films from the 1970's. Beyond the many nude scenes by the beautiful Alma Muriel, this film (as several others of the same period) tries to provide an account of how the Mexican society was changing moral codes under the authoritarian regime than finally collapsed in the late 90s. One revealing paradox, however, is that much of those films, which were highly critical of the Mexican status quo, were funded with public monies, following what was during the 70's and 80's a rather feeble attempt from the Mexican government to legitimize itself following the pattern of some European countries when dealing with cultural issues. "Cuando tejen...", is the story of a young model "trapped" or "freed" from her own sexual repression when she enters the modeling scene in Mexico City, and the many negative trade-offs happening during such process. The movie, despite its minor short-comings, provides an interesting description of the Mexican society at the time, its contradictions and paradoxes. Alma Muriel's character represents on many levels not only young Mexican women, but Mexican society at large, its awakening to a liberal approach to sexuality, the double standards that most usually appear in such processes, and ultimately the kinds of tensions that such changes produce.