Midaq Alley (1995) User Reviews

Connected lives

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 11 January 2006]

Naguib Mahfouz, the Egyptian novelist, whose "Midaq Alley" serves as the basis of this film, wrote about the characters that populate that narrow strip of an Egyptian city, and how in some ways, all of their lives are so inter-connected to one another.

Director Jorge Fons and the adapter, Vicente Lenero, transferred the action to Mexico City. They used the same format that Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu later used for his successful "Amores Perros" in 2000. It would be unfair to compare both films, yet, one can see certain parallels in the way the films unfold. Each narrative shows exact moments in which the lives of the people that part of town prove pivotal for the stories presented in the film.

There are four stories in the film. Each deals with what happened to that particular character while all have points in which they connect with the others. The film shows that when Mexican filmmakers want to tell interesting human stories, such as the ones depicted in the film, they don't have a thing to envy to the best types of cinema of the world. This is clearly a movie that will survive because of its universal themes.

Salma Hayek was making her second appearance in front of the cameras. She proved why she was an actress to be reckoned with. Her Alma shows a vulnerability, and freshness as she approaches the character. Ernesto Gomez Cruz, Maria Rojo, Bruno Bichir, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Luis Felipe Tovar and the rest of the cast do excellent ensemble work under Mr. Fons direction.

The film will not disappoint the viewer.

Outstanding Mexican movie

[Keep_Searching · 7/10 · 15 March 2004]

This movie is an impressive and exciting story about the people,their feelings,love,desperation,anger and hope.Although the scenario is a little bit melodramatic , the film is a must indeed.It is quite different from the blockbusters with happy ends because it is real and outstanding.Several lives and fates are mixed in it.Every character has their own unique personality.They all have to take decisions for their lives and have to fight for happiness.The actors are very nice.The stunning Hayek makes a good performance .Gomes Krus is also convincing as a man who becomes gay after 30 years marriage.The supporting roles are also well-played.Don't think that this is some kind of soap opera- it is something deeper...

In this world we are all asses that bray; some more male, some more gay.

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 26 October 2009]

She quickly went on to fame in Desperado and From Dusk Til Dawn, but this, Salma Hayek's second film role, shows her acting talent.

In the first of four tales, she is just window dressing. An object of desire for a young boy (Bruno Bichir). While she is sitting, Don Ru (Ernesto Gómez Cruz) is yelling at his son (Juan Manuel Bernal) for acting like "a queer" while he himself pursues Jimmy (Esteban Soberanes); and Susanita (Margarita Sanz) is getting her fortune told by Almita's (Hayek) mother, Catalina (María Rojo).

After Don Ru's son runs away thinking he has done something awful, and he buries his head in his wife's lap moaning. the story starts all over with an emphasis on Almita. She, tragically, ends up with Jose Luis (Daniel Giménez Cacho) and disappears.

Susanita is growing older and desperate to find a man. She fancies Don Ru's son, but ends up with Guicho (Luis Felipe Tovar).

So, does the prodigal son return? Does Almicita come home? How are things to end? The story is first rate and it has you on the edge of you seat wondering how it all ties together.

Excellent Mexican remake of an excellent Egyptian Movie

[aymanrizk · 10/10 · 29 August 2004]

Written by a Nobel Prize winner (Naguib Mahfouz for his life work, including this story). Midaq Alley is a remake of the 1963 movie listed on IMDb as: Zouqâq al-Midaqq (1963)...aka Alley of the Pestle (1963) (International: English title) Which was itself an excellent movie.

VERY MINOR SPOILERS GOING FORWARD:

The characters in both movie stick closely to the story, the Mexican version benefits from freedom of expression in many shots while the Egyptian version had to hint behaviours (homosexuality for example) to avoid censors scissors.

It amazes me how a story about characters in Cairo in the 40's could fit so closely in Mexico city half a world away.... tells you something about the similarities in human nature and behaviours...

Very minor details had to be changed to suite historical facts. As an example, when the two boys run away to collaborate with the occupying British forces in the Egyptian film, they try to cross the border illegally to the US in the Mexican version. Both give the same effect as socially unacceptable behaviours within their perspective societies.

All actors put convincing performances and beautiful Salma Hayek dazzles as usual.

Excellent film that shows how people live complex, rich, and tragic lives in a poor neighborhood of Mexico

[rodrigo378 · 10/10 · 4 June 2002]

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD:

I'm writing my first review ever so please understand.

This film deservedly won many awards. It is not a Hollywood glamour film by any means, but on the contrary, it is a deep film that shows how people live complex, rich, and tragic lives in a poor neighborhood of Mexico. The acting also is superb. Every character is believable and Salma Hayek stands out as the only known star. This is the best I've ever seen her and her acting in the final scene is very impressive.

The movie begins in the bar of Rutilio. A few middle age men are playing dominos and jokingly playfully yet also talking about their lives. Rutilio's son Chava, his friend Abel, and the bartender are in the background. The movie first focuses on the story of Rutilio, who allows his homosexual feelings to surface. Of course, he must face the consequences when his family finds out. One of the first great scenes of the movie is when, after abusing his wife a few days earlier, he's crying on her lap and looking for comfort and she's reluctant to console him. The movie also subtly introduces other characters during this first chapter.

After this scene, the movie returns to the same beginning scene and yet focuses on other characters: the men around the table, Abel, Rutilio, and the bartender. Through these characters' relationships with others, it introduces us to new characters, namely Alma, and Susana. The movie paints all of these characters very richly in many different colors. They all (except perhaps the two thieves and Jose Luis) live complex lives, are faced with difficult dilemmas, and are in many, complicated relationships. For example:

--Abel lives solely for the love of Alma and would enjoy just to be around her forever. Yet he realizes that without money, he cannot please her mother nor live happily with her. Additionally his best friend Chava asks him to leave to America with him. He decides to leave and work for the long term, using his picture of Alma as his motivation.

--Alma, on the other hand, is a young, naive girl. Her mother and her are poor and they live in a small apartment. She wants to escapes to a better world, just as anybody would. Thus when Jose Luis comes and offers her a world of mansions, money, and sex, she abandons her world and her wait for Abel; for she wants her immediate desires to be fulfilled. How would she know that she would become trapped in Jose Luis' vicious circle and become addicted to cocaine?

Yet this movie does not stop with these people. It reveals the inner lives of even more people in the neighborhood. At first, one only sees these people on the outside and only learn a little bit about them. They are playing dominos, walking around, or looking at tarot cards. Yet as the movie progresses, it goes inside their lives and shows how complex and human these people are. Even the shop owner, who at first just seems a one-dimensional lecher, actually wants to get remarried, and please Alma by taking her to the opera and the theater. Guicho, the bartender, who at first appears only as a thief and somebody who takes advantages of others, struggles to stop his impulse to steal and truly loves Susana.

Additionally, the film is full of excellent dialogue and has a well-written script. This film is not dark at all even with all the tragedy in these peoples' lives. It is fully of witty jokes, poetry (from the bookstore owner), and even a few comic characters. Manu, for example, always jokes and says, `Well, seriously. . .' Moreover, it is full of a few excellent, intense scenes that fully depict the emotion of the characters. I've already mentioned the one with Rutilio, but others include the ones in which Guicho kisses Susana's feet while she sobs, Alma crumples Abel's letter and holds it near to her face, and of course Alma's despair in the final scene.

In the end, the movie does not resolve any of the problems nor give us a fairy tale ending. But this movie shows real lives. The characters' problems and their relationships cannot be changed with the flick of a wand. Instead, it beautifully shows a certain time period in these characters' lives. They will continue to live and struggle to solve their problems. Alma might never escape Jose Luis's dominion and Chava will continue to be a womanizer and ignore his wife.

Perhaps this movie has no dominating themes. But it does depict how real people have faced real situations, and how they responded to them. It shows this though in a way only movies can do it with charming dialogue, intense actions, and actors that light up the screen by illustrating many different emotions. Not only does this movie shows how difficult life is in modern Mexico, but also how people respond to their own dilemmas in their lives. It is an excellent movie, one of the best I've seen recently, and perhaps of the 90s.

universal Cairo story retold for Mexican audience

[TanjBennett · 7/10 · 8 December 2003]

This film was not made for Americans, or even with the thought of marketing outside the USA. Just like Hollywood remakes will redo a story for the US, this took a story written for Cairo and transplanted it to Mexico City without a trace of the original setting. It is framed and acted much like a stage play, and the focus is on the people. It's painful to watch at times, because the story grinds your nose against stories of people who are getting through some unpleasant times in some unpleasant ways and the pace does not let you escape - it is clear they want you to endure something of what the characters are going through. The acting is generally good, there are convincing portraits of a half dozen main characters and the supports aren't bad. Yep, the overall ending is predictable, but not unbelievable and a few of the side stories might surprise you along the way.

I watched the DVD version. It has no extras or options. You get dialog in Spanish, English subtitles, in 4:3 format - no choices. Sound is stereo, color is ok and picture is competent.

Lives intertwined beautifully and tragically

[pilot19 · 10/10 · 5 October 2005]

This story demonstrates the intertwined and tragic minutia of common folks told in a dramatic and realistic format. The ensemble cast members are at ease with one another as they display acts of beauty and brutality. The theme of love unfolds from the neophyte, to the jaded, to the unabashed. The actors appear natural and believable (unlike some Latin "novelas"), developing their characters in a seamless and effortless fashion. The devotion to cultural stereotypes only lends credibility to the story's environment and development. The attention to detail (Susanita's teeth for example); make the characters as believable and endearing as any in recent memory. This movie is a brilliant look at human tragedy. Watching it with someone you love only makes it more moving and poignant. Excellent!!!

Excellent

[Brandy-28 · 27 December 2000]

My Cable company just recently added the new Spanish HBO to my system. And I just so happen to be flipping through these channels looking for something to watch (you know, it's really late and there is nothing else on), well I came to the Spanish HBO and a movie was just starting with sub-titles. I thought, hey why not. This movie "Midaq Alley" was excellent. It had everything in a movie you could asked for. I recommend this movie highly to everyone, no matter what your ethnic background is - you will walk away from this movie with something. Trust me.

Increasingly interesting as it unfolds

[D-dogg · 7/10 · 7 March 2000]

While this movie isn't spectacular, it is a well told story that becomes increasingly intriguing as it unfolds. I initially identified with the Mexican culture portrayed, but foolishly so--the novel (Midaq Alley) is based in Cairo and written by an Egyptian author. The story is that of a neighbourhood, its residents, and how they progress. It is a depressing story of sorts, told from the perspective of the different characters. At first the characters don't seem to have the depth needed to sustain the movie, but as we watch we learn more about each and the decisions they make to "better" their circumstances and the repercussions of those decisions. This is perhaps the best role I have seen Salma Hayek portray. She is, for once, cast in a role that has more depth. For those who like movies, this story is worth the time spent.

no Mexican melodrama

[L. Lion · 9/10 · 8 August 1999]

A film of surprising depth and frankness, this is no Mexican soap opera. The film is told in chapters, one about each major character. They all come from the same neighborhood and their lives intertwine. For the most part the stories wind up in disappointment, with few moments of sweetness, and some real tragedies. It's not quite a slice of life, but compares very favorably to the similar American film Short Cuts by Robert Altman. Without going into too much detail, it follows a late mid-life 'crisis' of a bar owner named Rutilio who finally allows his inner yearnings to surface, almost at the cost of his family. The second chapter follows Alma (Salma Hayek, the only recognizable name from the cast) as a lovely ghetto girl who is torn by the absence of her fiance who is in America and the desires, needs and temptations of being young, lovely, and inexperienced. The third chapter is about Susanna, the local landlord, middle-aged, homely, and never-been-loved and the trials she puts herself through after a fateful tarot-card reading predicting the imminent appearance of a man in her life. The last chapter, the Return, ties all the strings together as best they can be, because this is life and the strings simply don't tie together that well.

I didn't expect a Mexican film of this frankness - not just sex, but characters having real conversations, smoking grass, getting mixed up in an underworld with a sheen of decency and the expected rotten core - all rotating around the table in the neighborhood bar where the men play dominoes. These comments may not have convinced you to see this movie, but if you did see and liked Short Cuts then I highly recommend this film. And if Short Cuts is gobbledegook to you then I recommend both. Nine out of Ten.

Pockets Full of Poverty

[jeanett-szyszka · 7/10 · 7 November 2009]

Although the film looks and sounds similar to a soap opera, the story line digs deep into the pockets of poverty and reveals life inside Midaq Alley through the perspective of three characters; Don Ru, Alma, and Susanita. Gender issues revolving around sexuality and the machismo are shown through Don Ru. In the beginning of the film, we see Don Ru scold his son, Chava, for seeming "too gay" with his friend Abel because Chava is spending too much time with Abel when he was supposed to be working at his father's bar. As the film progresses, Don Ru becomes intimate with a young sales boy while his machismo shifts to envelope his anger and resentment towards his wife and disapproving poet friend. Don Ru does not represent financial poverty but the lack of true sexual and self identity.

Gender roles are made apparent through men's domino games at Don Ru's bar where women are portrayed as dull, boring, and bothersome. Alma is the gaze of men in the film because she is young and vibrant, however, that is all she is allowed to be; an object of men's desire. Being raised in poverty, she is drawn to money and a better life but this path takes her to prostitution, drugs, and the loss of her true love.

Susanita represents poverty on many levels; class status, gender, and physical traits which prohibit her from finding a companion or being taken seriously by her society. Although Susanita is not wealthy, she does have the means to help characters along the way, including herself. When she conforms to societal physical standards and gets major dental work, she is finally able to obtain a companion and establish herself in the community, which of course eventually takes a dark turn.

Midaq Alley is a dark comedy that intertwines the life of numerous characters; all connected to each other in some way, showing many levels of poverty and the loss of hope with a splash of bad luck in poor towns like Midaq Alley.

Excellent! Run to see it! Don't miss it!!

[miguelcuba · 10/10 · 8 July 2000]

Midaq Alley is the best foreign movie of 1995. The movie take place in Mexico's Downtown in a street named: " Midaq Alley". Basically the film show us the stories of three people from that neighborhood.

Mr Ru whom after 30 tears of marriage is feeling homosexual falling in love with a young guy the same age as his son, making his wife's life miserable.

Susanita and old lady whom never been married and doesn't know what is love, finally she falls for someone not very honest. The other one is Alma , played for Salma Hayek a young, beautiful virgin girl whom is interested in everything about sex and drugs. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. It's worth the money!!

Is it so Close to the Original it Needed to Adopt the Title?

[fatcat-73450 · 7/10 · 4 October 2021]

"Miracle Alley" rolls off the tongue better than "Midaq Alley." I haven't read the "source material," but this movie is drenched in Latin American spirit and I find it unfathomable that it has so much in common with a novel set in 1950s Egypt that it needs to have the exact same title. I could be wrong, though.

About half of the movie could be described as a drama concerning the romantic and sexual habits of the residents of a large city. There's the frustrated spouse, the desperate spinster, the hopeless romantic, and the guy just looking to score, all among the backdrop of lower/lower middle class struggles to get mo money. Although the subject matter is similar to that of a telenovela, it's treated more tastefully, and so it works as a drama.

The other half of the work involves various tragedies.

Perhaps the central one involves the hamartia of one of the protagonists. He has a skewed perception of human nature and idealized love that leads to tragic consequences.

Many of the other characters end up getting something they think they want but find out that the grass wasn't as green as they thought.

This film has many characters but few happy endings. Even when they get what they thought they wanted, new unhappiness arises from new large problems they had not foreseen. This is also symbolised in the structure of the film, with the same scene opening every "mini story" that is told from different perspectives.

Ironically the only character who gets a happy ending is one of the most morally bankrupt and unkempt-looking. He gets punished for a crime but when he's finished with that punishment he comes back to enjoy the life he's always loved and known.

Strong acting from most of the cast except the guy who plays Abel, who plays his role in a histrionic style. Although because his plotline is also the least realistic, it might have been done on purpose.

Honourable Mentions: National Lampoon's Vacation. In Midaq Ally, a character in a red sports car is used to represent excitement, seduction, and escape from the mundane. National Lampoon's Vacation uses the same device in a lighter manner, with less dramatic consequences.

Stale Telenovela

[k-scheffler · 3/10 · 22 April 2005]

A slow movie with no psychological depth. There are a few story lines and none of them really relate, except that they all take place in a small neighborhood of Mexico City. The acting is telenovela quality and so is the plot. None of the actors motivations are evenly remotely hinted at. Why is (Alma) Hayek intrigued by the pimp? Why does she go back to him after saying she won't? What's wrong with Abel that he's madly obsessed with her? How has Susanah managed to be single her whole life? How has Rutilio managed to be gay and be a married man for so long? Can we have some character development? What is the Rutilio's son's explanation for going into a murderous rage? An uninspiring bore that not even the beauty of Hayek can save.

A portrayal of everyday life

[mariat85-572-119464 · 8/10 · 7 November 2009]

The movie Midaq Alley follows different characters to show everyday life for a small community in Mexico while the viewer sees the same story from a different perspective. I think the same scene placed at the beginning of each synopsis that shows some older men playing dominoes in Don Ru's cantina is symbolic because it is representative of an ordinary day and also shows how people in the community gather together and share stories and get to know one another. I feel that it represents the culture in Mexico and emphasizes how everyone looks out for one another, like how Ubaldo looks out for Eusebia's sadness and how Dona Cata looks out for Susanita's feelings, and also how Abel looks out for Chava's well being. By making this scene the establishing shot for each time the viewer sees a different point of view begin, the director is trying to portray how significant gathering for a game of Dominos in the cantina is in the daily lives of those in Midaq Alley. There are also some street scenes where it seems everyone knows one another. I wonder if it is a custom to be so close to neighbors and care for them like family, or if it has to do with the small size of their community. I was not really surprised that the ending was not extremely dramatic. I think it was very fitting to leave things the way they were because the movie was a portrayal of everyday life. I feel that the scenes of the men playing Dominos at Don Ru's cantina are the most important scenes of the film because it tells the viewer that although the characters presented have complex lives, the actions they take to reach their individual happiness are mundane when you take a look at the bigger picture, especially when you realize the men playing dominoes are older and have gone through many life experiences, perhaps they are trying to tell us to relax and not take life so seriously.

Great

[Gordon-11 · 11 June 2003]

This is a very interesting film. The three stories in the film are connected in some way, and yet not completely connected. The first story explores the issue of homosexuality, which I think is a brave idea in a country that is quite religious. The film is beautifully shot, and the locations seem realistic and reflect the daily life of the people.

Cinema told in Mexican time.

[evileyereviews · 8/10 · 7 August 2010]

Mexican cinema is the owner of time, and this little gem is evidence for our court. This is a story of humans and their not so selfless desires and shenanigans. The more we come to know and feel for our players, the more we come to despise them. I love that! The cast is strong, with Salma Hayek leading the fray as a character whose amorous doubts, when showered with gifts, evaporate like tears on a dusty Mexican road. Their are no slouches here, but instead top-notch performances in a story adapted from an Egyptian novel center in Cairo. The nadirs of human nature respect no boundaries. With great directing and cinematography, this compelling flick is sure to poke the wrong buttons in all the right ways. Merci beaucoup.

Evil Eye Reviews

Beautiful and sad histories in a good movie!

[ariel-15 · 10/10 · 26 November 1998]

This movie show the true of millions of humans in the world. It is a large movie but it is very interesting. You will not be tired of watching. The hard life of the poor people from Latin America is showed like it is.

This a different and good movie. If you live comfortably and you do not know the bad side of the poverty, you must see this selection, do it.

Very Good/Some actions not fully justified.

[drbplynch · 8/10 · 23 January 2005]

I thought the film was very good. I like the symmetry of it in it's treatment of the sexes and in its layout. Many, many parallels run through all the relationships. The one big problem with it is that one of the major parallels,the Don's development of "platonic love" and the "fall" of the heroine are not really justified in my eyes, more development would have been nice but as it is it is a very long movie(although the length seemed appropriate). Why does she do what she does except to advance the plot? That is she neither a man that age changes as such without some prior history nor a girl presented as she is at first presented does what she then does. Those that do what she does have a much darker past then we are lead to believe.

An excellent picture that shows us the mirror can have more than two faces...

[ricarri-2 · 10/10 · 14 November 1998]

As Quintin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" shows, a story can be told in severals points of view. Each person in the story sees it in a particular way and acts accordingly. Salma Hayek looks great and proves to be more than a pretty face. You can't say what makes this movie so great. Maybe the story, maybe the actors, maybe the director, maybe all of above. Any attempt to summarize this picture is useless. You must watch it.

More Peyton Place than Callego de los Milagros.

[muddlyjames · 5/10 · 7 January 2002]

MIDAQ ALLEY's fatal flaw is that is that it totally lacks a sense of place. Because we get no feel for the (presumably) confining, suffocating, sometimes brutal environment they live in we, get no sense of the characters' desperation and thus little understanding of their motivations. Seriously, in the first segment I found myself literally asking if I was supposed to find this believable as the father obliviously parades his new love interest to anyone who cares to look. MILD SPOILER: We also get no real idea of why Alma would make the decision to turn to a life of prostitution - we have to assume her feelings of deprivation and lack of hope. This lack of intrinsic believability has to be laid heavily on the shoulders of director Pons who lights each scene as if it were literally on a stage, shows no eye for composition, obviously believes broad gestures are the height of dramatic art, and loves to end scenes with wailing, faces contorted in agony, and poignant swells of the soundtrack. However, the screenplay is obviously thin on its own: many secondary characters are nothing more than cardboard cutouts (the Artist, the drug dealer, even Rutilio). Hell, none of the male characters are remotely lifelike (this also attributable to consistently poor performances by the male cast members). The tale also relies too heavily on colorful/quirky incident and characterization, and melodramatic (as well as predictable) plot developments. The only thing the film gets right is that it manages to capture the female characters' yearning for some specialness to enter their humdrum lives. This is particularly true for Alma's mother and Susanita; the only two characters that seem have any dramatic weight and consistent psychology to them. In short this an attempt to capture a poignant slice of Mexican life that never finds its way to the street, and so remains trapped in the studio. More Peyton Place than Callego de los Milagros. 5 out of 10

Midaq Alley / El Callejon De Los Milagros: The interconnection is torn apart.

[gmb5 · 12 November 2009]

The melodramatic film called El Callejon De Los Milagros tells four stories focusing on different characters that show how their lives are interconnected. The film starts by introducing Rutilio, a hard working bar owner who discovers he is homosexual. The second story introduces Alma, played by familiar Salma Hayek, who dreams of escaping her middle class lifestyle. The plot focuses on Alma, whose goddess-like, untouchable character has ultimate control and is wanted by many men. When introduced into the plot, her establishing shot is a low camera angle and almost Juliet-like as she sits in her window sill looking down at Abel, the man that adores her. The third story revolves around Susana, a woman who dreams of finding a husband and uses tarot cards to find answers. In the last story Chava and Abel return home from the U.S. which stitches the stories together, but also tears everyone apart.

After the boys return, a theme of torn relationships proves nobody can be trusted and viewers begin to learn that this is not a hegemonic model of a Hollywood film. Relationships begin to crumble, scenes are shot at night, giving the story a dangerous tone, and the ending doesn't leave the audience satisfied. Rutilio crushes his wife and son when they learn he is homosexual, Chava is controlling and disloyal to his new wife, and Susana's money is stolen repeatedly by her husband. Losing patience with her boyfriend, Abel, living in the U.S., Alma becomes engaged to be married. When her fiancé dies she is lured by Jose Luis who offers a spontaneous lifestyle of drugs, sex and money. Ultimately, Alma becomes a whore and a cocaine addict and is no longer in control as Jose Luis tears everything away that matters, including her self worth and even Abel. Ultimately Jose Luis is the most powerful and successful character when it comes to getting what he wants; everyone else is left feeling hopeless.

This film is deserving of its many awards as Jorge Fons effectively gives us a story that shows love is not something everyone stumbles upon without effort.

An excellent story well told

[juchiman · 8/10 · 4 April 1999]

This movie shows us how difficult life can be in our poor Latin America (and in my country México). The story is told in an excellent way by Jorge Fons, giving us different points of view at the same time. I know that not many people is interested in movies from any other country than the USA, but this one is really worth seeing. Ernesto Gomez Cruz deserves a mention apart for his work as "Don Ru", he proves us once again what a good actor he is.

Powerful and moving film that offers a glimpse into the lives of the poor and marginalized in Mexico City

[soenvivo · 9/10 · 19 May 2023]

The film is beautifully shot and features strong performances from its cast. It is a must-see for anyone interested in Mexican cinema or social realism.

The film is divided into four chapters, each of which tells the story of one of the main characters. The first chapter, "Chava," tells the story of a young man who dreams of going to the United States to make a better life for himself. The second chapter, "Alma," tells the story of a beautiful young woman who is forced into prostitution after her dreams of becoming a singer are dashed. The third chapter, "Susanita," tells the story of a lonely spinster who is desperate to find love. The fourth chapter, "El regreso," brings all of the characters together as they face the challenges of life in Mexico City.

The film is a powerful and moving portrait of the human condition. It is a film about hope, dreams, and the power of love to overcome adversity. El callejón de los milagros is a must-see for anyone interested in Mexican cinema or social realism.

Here are some of the things that I liked about the film:

The acting was superb. The cast brought the characters to life in a way that was both believable and moving.

The cinematography was beautiful. The film was shot in Mexico City, and the director took full advantage of the city's rich history and culture.

The story was compelling. The film was full of twists and turns, and I was always eager to see what would happen next.

Here are some of the things that I didn't like about the film:

The film was a bit slow at times. The pacing could have been tightened up a bit.

The film was a bit depressing. The characters faced a lot of challenges, and it was sometimes hard to watch.

Overall, I thought El callejón de los milagros was a great film. It was well-made, well-acted, and well-written. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Mexican cinema or social realism.

Interesting time sequencing, hokey stories

[bandw · 5/10 · 10 March 2007]

This movie is presented in four acts. The first three acts all begin with the exact same scene and then each act tells the story of one of three people in the social group of those in the opening scene. The final act takes up at the time where the first three acts end. This provides an interesting plot structure, but engages only if the stories are interesting and each individual story illuminates the others, which I did not find to be the case.

The first story is that of Rutilio, the owner of a small bar where the opening scene takes place. Rutilio is in his 60s and passion has definitely gone out of his marriage. In one scene Rutilio castigates his son Chava for hanging around with his male friend Abel to the extent that it may appear that he is queer. But the next thing we know Rutilio is taking up with a young male sales clerk. This seems to be something of a reverse "homosexual cure" and is about as believable.

The second story is about Alma, a sexy young woman who is involved with Abel. The first half of Alma's story is the only part of the movie that engaged me - the development of her relationship with Abel is touching. But Abel so loves Alma that he goes to the U.S. to make money with the idea he will come back to marry her. Shortly after Abel's departure Alma takes up with a handsome stranger, only to discover that he is a high-class pimp. When she finds this out she tells him to get lost in the strongest terms. But then she abruptly behaves in an unexpected and unbelievable manner by returning to the pimp and asking for work.

The third story is about Susanita, a plain, middle-aged spinster who is financially well off but sexually frustrated. The story of Susanita's relationship with Güicho, a young bartender in Rutilio's bar, never struck a believable note for me. Güicho was after her money and Susanita was starved for love, but the mismatch was just too great to ever believe in their relationship and marriage.

The final act will dismay all but the most ardent lovers of high melodrama.

"Lawless Heart" has an almost identical plot structure, but is far more artful in the way it exploits it.

This movie advertises itself as the most highly awarded of all Mexican movies. I notice that most of its awards come from Latin American countries, so I figure that awards are easily come by there or this type of film has a particular appeal to those cultures. But, after having seen "Y tu mamá también" and "Amores Perros" I had hoped for more.