Arráncame la vida (2008)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Roberto Sneider

Writers:

Ángeles Mastretta (story)
Roberto Sneider (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ana Claudia Talancón	...	Catalina Guzman
Daniel Giménez Cacho	...	Andres Ascencio
José María de Tavira	...	Carlos Vives
Mariana Peñalva	...	Mercedes
Irene Azuela	...	Bárbara
Jake Koenig	...	Mike Heiss
María Aura	...	Pepa
Danna Paola	...	Lilia Ascencio - Age 12
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Metztli Adamina	...	Eufemia
Alain	...	Marcos
Rodolfo Almada	...	Gral. Aguilar
Andrea Arámburo	...	Adriana
Marta Aura	...	Josefina
Carmen Beato	...	Doña Elena
Fernando Becerril	...	Don Marcos
Julio Bracho	...	Cienfuegos
Iván Bronstein	...	Redactor en jefe
Delia Casanova	...	Julia
Joaquín Cosio	...	Juan
Marcia Coutiño	...	Otra señora concierto
Rubén Cristiany	...	Notario
Rafael Cuervo	...	Leandro
Vicky de Fuentes	...	Lucina
Abundino Díaz Alcantara	...	Campesino mitín
Camila Fuentes	...	Pía
Guillermo Gil	...	Rodolfo
Aranza Gleason	...	Teresa
Federico González Compeán	...	Matón
Alberto Guerra	...	Guillermo
Max Gutiérrez	...	Téllez
Jesús Jiménez	...	Admirador Vives 2
Emilio Lechón	...	Checo - Age 3
Eugenia León	...	Toña la Negra
Surya MacGregor	...	Olga
Alejandra Marín	...	Magda
Itari Marta	...	Soledad
Patricia Martínez de Velasco	...	Tía Gertrudis
Pilar Ixquic Mata	...	Sofía
Arantza Moreno	...	Verania - Age 5
Gina Morett	...	La güera
Ana Ofelia Murguía	...	Clarita
Concepción Ojeda	...	Viejita Tonantzintla 1
Concepción Ojeda Jr.	...	Viejita Tonantzintla 2
Pilar Padilla	...	Sra. González
Andres Pardave	...	Juez
Enrique Paredes	...	Enrique
Salvador Parra	...	Admirador Vives 1
Victor Partida	...	Octavio
Julián Pastor	...	General de arresto
Flor Payán
Leticia Pedrajo	...	Sra. del Secretario
Álex Perea	...	Pablo
Jorge Reynoso	...	Gral. Fuentes
Carolina Rincón	...	Pilar
Elvira Ruiz	...	Enfermera
José Carlos Ruiz	...	Soriano
Gael Sánchez	...	Checo - Age 7
Rafael Sánchez Navarro	...	Cordera
Alicia Santillana	...	Verania - baby
José Sefami	...	Poncho Peña
Alfredo Sevilla	...	Gral. Jiménez
Carla Sneider	...	Vecina Vives
Camila Sodi	...	Lilia Ascencio
Itza Sodi	...	Javier
Alejandro Usigli	...	Julián
Isela Vega	...	Gitana
Humberto Velez	...	Canales
Rocío Verdejo	...	Marilú
Mario Zaragoza	...	Borracho

Also Known As:

Tear This Heart Out (International: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Mexico:B15 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Altavista Films

Trivia:

Based partially in the life of General Maximiano Avila Camacho, brother of the Mexican president Manuel Avila Camacho. He was governor of Puebla from 1937 to 1941 and served as secretary of public works in his brother's Cabinet. He was infamous for being ruthless, arrogant and violent with his political enemies.

Solid storytelling, good performances, flawless directing and production

(Stupid IMDb. It doesn't get that I'm trying to type this comment in Spanish. OK. Here we go again in English)

First, two strong statements: I have not read the book and I'm from Puebla (the city where the story takes place).

I don't know how good of an adaptation this movie is, but as a cinematic product, "Arráncame la vida" works just fine. The leading actors, as well as the rest of the cast, offer solid performances. Giménez Cacho, as always, portrays Andrés Ascencio very nicely. He depicts a son of-a-bitch general, who -despite this characteristics or because of these- is highly enjoyable. The macho humor that this character uses, gives movement to the story. On top of that, we have Ana Claudia Talancón, the astonishing Catalina Guzmán. I'm not the biggest fan of her but I have to say her performance is flawless.

The references to the "poblano factor" (poblanez) gives a proper setting to the actions of the story, which mentions a lot of local moments and characters of the 30's and 40's. However, the universal value of the movie (and the novel, I guess) remains. Caciques, corruption and battles over power exist everywhere, not only in México but all over the world.

About directing and production, again, flawless. With a nearly 7 million dollar budget, "Arráncame la vida" is the most expensive movie in México to this date. However it has the quality of any Hollywood picture that surely would need way more than that to achiev the same results. The cinematography and the powerful music give the final touches to a production which, I'm sure, the audience from Puebla enjoyed and related to their own experiences and long time memories. Some nervous laughs could be heard in a packed premier at Puebla with members of the finest families of the region. You go guess what they thought of this portrait...

Despite of that, people would be satisfied with the story from what I could see and hear.

Summing up: I strongly recommend this picture. It is not the "biggest Mexican picture" but, no doubt, is a solid project with high production values. I've never read any of Mastretta's books but now I want to start.