La mujer de mi hermano (2005)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Ricardo de Montreuil

Writers:

María Eugenia Argomedo (additional dialogue)
Jaime Bayly (novel)

Release Date:

4 November 2005 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After almost 10 years of marriage, attractive Zoe discovers that her marriage lacks passion and surprise...

Plot Keywords:

Profanity | Swimming Pool | Pregnancy | Sex | Abortion

Cast

Bárbara Mori	...	Zoe
Christian Meier	...	Ignacio
Manolo Cardona	...	Gonzalo
Gaby Espino	...	Laura
Beto Cuevas	...	Padre Santiago
Bruno Bichir	...	Boris
Angélica Aragón	...	Cristina

Also Known As:

My Brother's Wife (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

Colombia:89 min

Country:

Argentina | Mexico | Peru | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Mexico:C | Argentina:16 | USA:R | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB)

Filming Locations:

Santiago, Chile

Company:

Shallow Entertainment

Quotes:

Zoe: Are you sure you love me?

Soundtrack:

Baby Blues

My Brother's Woman

The overwhelming preponderance of American critics have incorrectly translated the title of "La Mujer de mi Hermano" as "My Brother's Wife." Indeed, even prestigious film critic Roger Ebert went so far as to suggest that the film should be retitled "My Husband's Brother" since the story was told from the wife's perspective.

Frankly, these critics missed the point: The correct translation is "My Brother's Woman," a deliberate reference to the heroine's ambivalence as the center of a romantic triangle between two brothers. In other words, with which brother does she really belong? The Spanish title is so right for its story.

Most critics also missed the point that within macho Latin culture, the hot-headed husband Ignacio might well have put his two-timing wife Zoe and cuckolding brother Gonzalo six feet under and, sub-textually, that's precisely where the story seemed to be speeding like an out-of-control freight train. Instead, surprisingly, Ignacio embraces his wife, forgives his brother and accepts his nephew as his own child. Yes, and his adulterous wife -- his brother's woman -- forgives his periodic bisexual dalliances. As Zoe says, it's only fair.

In the south-of-the-border world of predominately Catholic conservatism, this film provides a rare glimpse at social tolerance and interpersonal redemption. And though built on the chassis of a melodramatic telenovela, the societal resonance of its themes uplift the richness of the story to somewhere between "Unfaithful" and "Little Children." Beautifully photographed, beautifully acted and beautifully directed, this film has been woefully underrated by America's politically correct and culturally insensitive critical community. Do not be fooled.

"La Mujer de mi Hermano" is a very good film.