10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like no Pancho Villa you've seen before, January 4, 2001
This review is from: Between Pancho Villa and a Naked Woman [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The movie begins with a sepia toned Sonoran desert and an approaching figure on horseback, as he comes closer the murmuring sounds of a woman become more exiciteable. The man on horseback is Pancho Villa and Gina, as played by Diana Brucho, explains, he is the perfect metaphor for Mexican machismo and virility, he really turns her on. Problem is this turns to be a contradiction as she really desires someone more sensetive and caring. This is a very funny romantic comedy with some scenes that are outright outrageous and hilarious. A well done movie that fully entertains. Although there are several peripheral characters the story deals with the relationship between Gina and Adrian, as played by Arturo Rios. Adrian is an intellectual, "el profe", a writer and defender of human rights, except for Gina's as she tells him sarcastically. Adrian is writing a book about Pancho Villa and is consumed with his busy life which he manages to find time for Gina but not the way she would like. Adrian plays is role excellently. However in my opinion the show is stolen by the alter ego of Adrian, Pancho Villa. When Pancho Villa comes to "life", as either part of the book Adrian is writing or to console Adrian it is a riot, it is so funny. The charcter of Pancho Villa and the scenes he is in are the best of the movie. Gina, a modern liberated Mexican woman, is a partner in a border factory with another woman and a male partner who ultimately becomes Gina's love interest. Although her new lover is barely older than her own son she uses him out of frustration with her relationship with Adrian. She loves him to spite Adrian. The scenes where the three of them are in are comic and at the same time poignant, illustrating the nature of the problem. This is a movie that is very enjoyable, the characters exagerate their roles to make the situations even more funny. The two women directors, Sabina Berman and Isabelle Tardin are conveying a message from a womens perspective, Adrian and Pancho Villa are the perfect vehicle to illustrate the difference in thinking between the sexes. Ultimately a decision must be made about who will be Gina's amante and even Pancho Villa who represents "old school" Mexican machismo is of little help. This movie is an excellent example of the new attitudes being reflected in todays Mexican films. The dialogue is witty, the characters are marvelous and all in all this movie is a winner. Pancho Villa has a new role in cinema, que viva Pancho Villa!!
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