Bandidas (2006)

In turn-of-the-century Mexico, two very different women become a bank-robbing duo in an effort to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town.

Directors:

Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

Writers:

Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars:

Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Penélope Cruz	...	Maria Alvarez
Salma Hayek	...	Sara Sandoval
Steve Zahn	...	Quentin
Dwight Yoakam	...	Tyler Jackson
Denis Arndt	...	Ashe
Audra Blaser	...	Clarissa Ashe
Sam Shepard	...	Bill Buck
Ismael 'East' Carlo	...	Don Diego
Gary Carlos Cervantes	...	Pedro (as Carlos Cervantes)
José María Negri	...	Padre Pablo
Lenny Zundel	...	Bernardo
Edgar Vivar	...	Expl. Bank Manager
Ernesto Gómez Cruz	...	Brujo
Filiberto Estrella	...	Midget
Yomo Tlazotlalli	...	Gordo (as Yomo Tlazotlally)

Storyline

In 1848, a New York bank wants to put a railroad across Mexico, so it buys up small banks around Santa Rita, Durango, and evicts farmers on the proposed rail line who owe money. The bank's henchman is the murderous Jackson. He runs afoul of two women, María, the tough but uneducated daughter of a farmer, and Sara, the European-educated daughter of the owner of one of these banks. To feed the now landless people and to seek revenge, María and Sara become bank robbers, veritable Robin Hoods. But Jackson and his hired guns are after them. What are the women's options?

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Plot Keywords:

seduction | female robber | female bank robber | bank robbery | female gunfighter | 

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Taglines:

Wanted...alive or dead (DVD)

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexuality, nudity and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Europe Corp. [France] Official site [Germany]

Country:

France Mexico USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

18 January 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Бандитки

Filming Locations:

Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

€32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$796,693 (France), 27 January 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp,TF1 Films Production,A.J.O.Z. Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film the character played by Penelope Cruz is the daughter of a Mexican farmer. In reality Cruz is from Spain. Selma Hayek's character in turn plays the daughter of a Don who has just returned from Spain. Hayek herself was born in Mexico.

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Goofs

The sock in Quentin Cooke's mouth disappears and reappears during the "photo shoot", while you can still hear his muffled voice.

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Quotes

Maria Alvarez: [to her horse] Wait for me here. Don't talk to anyone.

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Soundtracks

Hoedown Express
by William Bergman (as William J. Bergman)
K Musik / Megatrax - JRM Music

User Reviews

With gorgeous vistas, "Bandidas" is a fun to watch!

"Bandidas" is set during the Mexican Revolution…

Cruz stars as María Alvarez, a gun-happy superstitious peasant who learns that her land has been sold to Tyler Jackson (Dwight Yoakam) by a corrupt Mexican banker Don Diego Sandoval (Ismael 'East' Carlo) until some higher authority intercedes…

María always knew what she wants and she always knew she feels, however when she dared to accuse Don Carlos as a corrupt and a thief, as a result of that her father is wounded in his ranch and his house is burned to the ground…

Sara Sandoval (Salma Hayek), who has been away at school in Europe for ten years, has left as a girl and came home as a woman…The only problem of Don Diego is now to convince her to stay… But Sandoval is poisoned following a real estate agreement with the avaricious Jackson…

So the two girls—joined by destiny—decide to be trained by Sam Shepard, to shoot well and to learn the rules of robbing banks… So they teamed up to get the people back on their land, and to come up with a plan, something that will benefit the people and destroy these murderers…

But after Quentin Cooke (Steve Zahn) an expert from New York City is kidnapped by the two she-monsters, the ruthless Jackson brought in more reinforcements, real killers hunting the two girls like animals… So every bank was seen more guarded now… Sara saw herself desperate, running out of ideas… Inside of herself she knew that she was raised to be a spoiled lady, not a renegade…

Penélope and Salma have great chemistry, and they are totally adorable together… The film has many memorable moments: the church catfight; the horse climbing a ladder; the two beauties in prostitute red cloth; Hayek getting off her chest her bloody corset which has been squeezing her gut her whole life; Salma teaching Penélope how to kiss a man right and how to capture that nuance…