Por la libre (2000)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Juan Carlos de Llaca

Writer:

Antonio Armonia (writer)

Release Date:

13 October 2000 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Female Nudity

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Osvaldo Benavides	...	Rocco
Rodrigo Cachero	...	Rodrigo
Ana de la Reguera	...	Maria
Otto Sirgo	...	Rodrigo Sr.
Rosa María Bianchi
Pilar Ixquic Mata	...	Pureza (as Pilar Mata)
Alejandro Tommasi	...	Luis
Gina Morett	...	Perla
Alexia Witt	...	Irina
Emilio Cortés	...	Roger
Héctor Ortega	...	Felipe
Xavier Massé	...	Rodrigo Carnicero
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ana Karla Kegel
Elena Paola Kegel
Hugo Villa	...	Nico
Ricardo Esquerra	...	Uncredited (uncredited)

Directed by
Juan Carlos de Llaca

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Antonio Armonia		writer

Produced by
Francisco González Compeán	....	executive producer
Yissel Ibarra	....	associate producer
Anna Roth	....	producer
Martha Sosa Elizondo	....	associate producer (as Martha Sosa)
Carlos Taibo	....	line producer

Original Music by
Gabriela Ortiz

Cinematography by
Checco Varese

Film Editing by
Jorge García

Production Design by
Mónica Chirinos

Costume Design by
Gabriela Diaque

Makeup Department
David Ruiz Gameros	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Carlos Taibo	....	production director
Hugo Villa	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sandra Paredes	....	second second assistant director
Ozcar Ramírez	....	second assistant director
Martín Torres	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jimena Contreras	....	art department coordinator
Moises Pineda	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Eric Dounce	....	adr recordist
Salvador Enríquez	....	boom operator
Lena Esquenazi	....	sound
Santiago Núñez	....	sound mixer
Eduardo Vaisman	....	sound effects editor

Visual Effects by
Luis Blackaller	....	opening credit sequence

Camera and Electrical Department
Esteban de Llaca	....	camera operator
Luis Enrique Granados	....	video assist

Music Department
Lynn Fainchtein	....	music supervisor
Herminio Gutiérrez	....	music coordinator
Valeria Palomino	....	associate music producer

Transportation Department
Ricardo Díaz	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Julio Barcenas	....	location assistant
Nallely Barragan De La Mora	....	production assistant
Maury Carvajal	....	script supervisor
Claudia Montero	....	production assistant
Juan Pablo Noval	....	location assistant
Fernando Uriegas	....	location manager
Patricia Volcán	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Altavista Films

Distributors

• Venevision International

Also Known As:

Dust to Dust (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Altavista Films

Quotes:

Pureza: Papa, I'm pregnant.

Grandpa's last wishes

"Por la libre", a delightful comedy, directed by Juan Carlos LLaca, shows a new voice in the Mexican cinema. Mr. LLaca gives us a nicely paced movie. Written for the screen by Antonio Armonia, the film deals with what happens in a lot of families after a strong older member of it, in this case, the grandfather, dies suddenly. "Por la libre" has a great musical score by Gabriela Ortiz and the crisp cinematography of Checco Varese.

One of the problems in carrying out the wishes of the patriarch is made clear right after the will is read. There is a bank account the old man has left to a friend who leaves in Acapulco. His wish is to be cremated and have the ashes scattered in the waters of that scenic city by the Pacific, where he would have gone to reside, had he lived long enough.

While the three siblings squabble about what to do with the house and other financial matters, one of the two grandsons, Rocco, a young man who appears to be a rebel, wants to do the right thing while his father and the others are fighting. He decides to 'borrow' grandpa's old Mercedes that has been left to his cousin Rodrigo, and go to Acapulco to fulfill the old man's wishes. After he has stolen the urn that contains the ashes, Rodrigo watches as his cousin is about to leave, and catches up with him and the two embark into a voyage that will make them closer.

In Acapulco, Rocco and Rodrigo find the key to solving their dead grandfather's hidden secret, that no one within the family, had a clue about. In fact, both stumble into the mystery by mere coincidence when Rocco sees an advertisement for a hotel where they stay while making preparations for the ritual of scattering the ashes at sunrise.

Mr. LLaca is to be congratulated for getting good performances out of the three principals. Osvaldo Benavides and Rodrigo Cachero play the two cousins, Rocco and Rodrigo with conviction as they seem to be having fun with their roles. The gorgeous Ana de la Reguera plays Maria, the daughter of the owner of the hotel where the two cousins end up staying.

"Por la libre" deserves a viewing because of all the elements that the director, Mr. LLaca brought together to the film. The movie is well crafted and it's fun to look at. In a way, it's one of the best films that have come out of Mexico in recent years.