Arráncame la vida (2008)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Roberto Sneider

Writers:

Ángeles Mastretta (story)
Roberto Sneider (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

2 wins & 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.

Best Mexican production in years.

Period pieces in Mexico have been well done almost always, but productions of period pieces had been only made for soap operas, never before had a movie production been so well done.

Although I never read the novel by Angeles Mastretta, I knew it was somehow accurate, since I hear she is a direct descendant from the story's protagonist Catalina -names are changed in the novel and film. This is shown by the richness of dialogs and curious anecdotes which constantly make you wonder which parts were completely true and which sprung from the author's vivid imagination.

Apart from the richness from the story and how the storytelling evolves smoothly throughout the film, the production design makes you feel completely Mexico in the 1930s. The costumes are great also.

The direction is almost perfect. Roberto Sneider takes you by surprise first at about minute 20, then slowly and smoothly hypnotizes you and never lets go.

Much credit goes to the lead Ana Claudia Talancon whose good looks and very well developed character arc make you fall at first for her beauty and innocence, and later for her humanity, courage and cleverness.

Daniel Gimenez Chaco's performance deserves praise also. He captures the Mexican Macho Persona perfectly, his cynical viewpoint of things and comments, bring humor to a character who would be otherwise despicable.

Second characters like de Tavira's and others feel a bit underdeveloped, but in the end all actors do great jobs with their little screen time and their contribution suffice.

The drama never falls for the temptation to go overly melodramatic and dialogs are kept smart enough - even ironic at times - to make this movie a fresh and satisfying take on the Mexican way of life. It actually feels so accurate that deep thoughts of "nothing has ever changed really" do spring a few times.

The music and editing are very well done also.

Congratulations to everybody involved!