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12/30/2021 With almost anthropological overtones, Reygada makes in this, his debut, a poetic and phantasmagorical journey to the bowels of Mexico that not only shows the vulnerability in rural areas, but also shows the desolation and loneliness in the external and internal landscape of the character. Or something like that, at least, the truth is that nobody seem to know. See more dave s 06/24/2021 A man escapes the urban nightmare of Mexico City to roam the arid Mexican countryside in search of a place to kill himself. Japon is a film that will cause a significant number of its audience to recoil and this is perfectly understandable. The subject matter is, for the most part, unrelentingly grim. There are some images of animal cruelty and a sex scene between the two lead actors that many will find distasteful. Stylistically, Carlos Reygadas may have been inspired by the works of Bela Tarr and Andrei Tarkovsky as many of the scenes consist of long takes and carefully choreographed camera movement which may be off-putting to many. However, for those willing to give it a chance, it is a beautifully crafted film about one man's attempt to find a reason to live in a world that appears, at least on the surface, not to care. See more 10/08/2017 Full of confronting images that seem to declare "this is real life, don't look away" but also gentle meditative and scenic - it is hard to know what to make of Carlos Reygadas' debut feature (now 15 years old). A man travels to a remote canyon telling those that take him there that he aims to kill himself (evoking a Mexican version of Kiarostami's A Taste of Cherry). He rents space in a barn from an old woman who lives high up above the town. Reygados uses widescreen 16mm which gives a strange faded texture to the image which the light often bleaches out; the images are beautifully composed or startlingly odd (in form and content). One can't help thinking about the choices that the director is making. Although slow, the film casts a hypnotic spell as the story unfolds and grand themes (eros, thanatos) jostle with the rough and simple life of the Mexican peasants (nonprofessionals, all), occasionally to the strains of opera heard on the protagonist's headphones (there are many point-of-view or subjective shots). We wait to see what the man will do, wondering what has driven him to this faraway location, but he slowly begins to feel concern for his landlady, Ascen (for Ascension), and the issues she faces in her community. Perhaps his subsequent "intervention" into her life amounts to despoiling or tainting, resulting in the final tracking shot (which I only gradually understood). However, other interpretations may be possible; this is definitely a film where viewers are left to draw their own conclusions. Personally, I couldn't shake the feeling that the natural world portrayed here is a harsh one and that we humans must do what we can to cope with it. See more 09/18/2016 Poor Tarkovskij is turning in his grave See more 07/29/2014 A very slow film where we follow a man walking around in a canyon of some sort. Gis destination is unknown, but his own suicide is certain. It's got an semi-artsy vibe with little dialogue and few real happenings. This makes it flat, naturally. It's not very interesting, but it got some nice features and details that makes it watchable the first hour or so. We get some great moments with rain and nature shots and that is a highlight for the first half of the film. The rain stuff reminds me of the directors amazing "Stellet Licht" actually. It keeps going, but it never get especially interesting. It's a film to observe and it probably need some time to sink in since it's hard to rate this film directly after seeing it. The director have some usage of original or special nude scenes, and I know that Reygadas has done that before. Honest, deep, sad and sometimes dreamlike film. It's Dogme-like and artsy, pretty weird and an open mind is needed while watching this film. It felt long, and it's best discribed at boring, but it will stay with me as a whole. The closing shot is amazing and lift the film a whole lot as a total experience. 6 out of 10 pulque drinks. See more 07/24/2014 The PC police are at work here. I was led astray by AO Scott (NY Times) and Manohla Dargis (LA Times). These two reviewers usually are very accurate in their movie reviews. This time I think the emperor wore no clothes. This is one of those Art Films that has very little story and leaves more questions than it answers. I found very little to recommend. Our nameless hero travels to a remote Mexican village to shoot himself. We have no idea why. He stays a few days with an elderly widow. There are some vague references to Catholic Christianity. The widow has a name/nickname that references the figure of Christ. Our hero finds occasion to lay upon his bed in a Christ on the cross posture. The mountain scenery that was purported to be strikingly beautiful; was mostly dry and rocky. There were some distant valleys that appeared to be green farm fields. The story moves at a glacial pace. Events take place. And, we have a not surprising ending. This movie might appeal to Catholics, people with a fondness for Mexico, or those with an existential bent of mind. It was not for me. I do not recommend it. See more Read all reviews

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