Customer Reviews

Dust to Dust (Por la Libre)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a big fan of Spanish language movies - especially those from Mexico. Por La Libre is an example of the excellent movies coming from Mexico. This movie is equal or better than many coming out of Hollywood. It has a great soundtrack and storyline, nice directing, good acting, and top notch film editing and quality.

When I read that the movie is about two teenagers going on a roadtrip, I figured this would be another same old teenage roadtrip movie with the same basic storyline and outcome. In fact, it does have the usual storyline of kids smoking pot, rebelling against parents, sex, clubbing, police harassment, etc. Nevertheless, this movie is not as predictible as those other teenage roadtrip movies. This movie has a few unexpected twist and turns that kept me surprised and entertained. This movie would appeal to adults of any age. This movie is a light comedy.

I am impressed with actress Ana de la Reguero who plays Maria. She's a real dark haired beauty. She reminds me of Penelope Cruz except Ana is better looking.

Although I don't consider this a 5 star movie and I could name several mexican films off hand that have better plots and actors; this movie is pretty fun and memorable enough to want to watch it every now and then. Two cousins that don't really get along take a road trip to acapulco to try to get their recently passed away grandfather's ashes into the ocean. They run into romance, trouble, and the movie gives a laughable surprise towards the end. Good movie,,not Oscar material but definitely a movie worthy of your dvd library and one that you will probably want to watch once in a blue moon.

I loved this movie! We watched it in my spanish class, and I had to go home and buy it. The story is wonderful, the acting is amazing, and the music is great. It takes place in mexico, and is about two fighting cousins whom take a road trip to alcapulco to fufill their recently deceasted grand fathers wishes. They enocounter many things along the way and find a common bond. I highly recomend this movie.

this movie is really good. it is about a road trip taken by two fighting cousins whom are on a journey to fufill a wish left by their deceast grandfather in his will. they encounter obstacles on the way and discover a secret the granfather had been hiding all his life. osvaldo benavides (rocco) delivers an amazing performance. I highly suggest you buy this if you are into latin cinema

I picked this up in VHS at a video store on clearance for 99 cents and figured it would be an okay piece of entertainment. Boy, was I surprised! This is an excellent bit of comedy, beautifully acted, wonderfully edited, totally enjoyable entertainment! The dysfunctional family dynamics are hysterical, the young people are attractive and funny, the plot twists are very unexpected, and it's simply beautifully done. Don't miss this one!

This movie made me homesick. Although not from Mexico, it reminded me alot of the times I lived there and some of the people I met. The spinning of the urn like a roulette wheel gave me a real chuckle. Also gives a view into the folks that live in Mexico City and it was nice to see Acapulco from the beach level. A good companion to Todo el Poder and El Segundo Aire.

"Por la libre" deserves a viewing because of all the elements that the director, Mr. LLaca brought together to this film. Even though it's a pretty light movie, you can take in consideration many good stuff about this one. First, the story is quite original. Second, the characters are indifferent from each other. Third, the acting is great by a very believable Osvaldo Benavides, and a surprising hit acting by Rodrigo Cachero, and of course, Ana de la Reguera, as a Hotel owner's daughter, whom also did a nice job in her role.

`Por la libre' is a free spirit comedy about family relationships and at some point, how the youth is and behaves in Mexico, the film deals with what happens in a lot of families after a strong older member of it, in this case, the grandfather, dies suddenly. The problems lie on carrying out the wishes of the patriarch is made clear right after the will is read. There is a bank account the old man has left to a friend who leaves in Acapulco. His wish is to be cremated and have the ashes scattered in the waters of that scenic city by the Pacific, where he would have gone to reside, had he lived long enough. Mr. LLaca is to be congratulated for getting good performances out of the three principals.

If you're looking for some other good Mexican films, try `Amores Perros' or `Y tu mama tambien,' these two films are very strong, profound, and full of meanings.

I am continually impressed by movies from Mexico. These movies are spun around very simple close-to-life stories, but superlative acting, cinematography, background score and direction makes them extremely interesting, intriguing, thought-provoking and entertaining.
The story starts with Grandpa Rodrigo's birthday and a reluctant gathering of family members. His daughter, two sons and two diagonally opposite cousins (Roco & Rodrigo). The tense & volatile atmosphere at the dinner table quickly erupts into a heated dialog (over Grandpa Rodrigo's son's marriage to a young & demure girl). Predictably, Grandpa Rodrigo has a massive heart-attack and he passes away. Without much delay, his will is read and the inheritance distributed. Amidst all the materialistic distribution, nobody seems to pay much attention to Grandpa's wish of his ashes being submerged at sea in Acapulco. For days, his ashes lay in a golden urn.
Flustered by everyone's nonchalant behavior, Roco grabs the urn and starts heading towards Acapulco in a vintage Mercedes. The vintage, however, is an inheritance gift to Rodrigo Jr. (his cousin). In an effort to save his inheritance, Rodrigo joins Roco in a sudden trip to Acapulco. Their personal differences come into play and despite much elbowing and snapping at each other, they make it to Acapulco. However, their mutual respect for Grandpa Rodrigo brings the cousins closer to one another. They continue to snap at each other, but (now) with an affectionate and brotherly air. Roco meets Maria (the very beautiful -- Ana de la Reguera) and without much delay, falls for her. The cousins spend a couple of days in Acapulco contemplating the strategy for submerging the ashes, clubbing, and growing up. However, on the planned submersion day, they realize that Maria is the daughter of Grandpa Rodrigo (watch the movie to see all the events). Maria is now Roco's aunt.
Finally, after a series of emotional incidents they manage to submerge the ashes. The subtle message is that life sometimes takes sharp turns, throws stuff at you and you have to grow up fast. However, we the humans, the recipients of the eternally free spirit must continue to love people around us (dead or alive) and ourselves. This is true freedom!

A sort of Mexican coming of age tale with two cousins on a mission to scatter their roguish grampa's ashes in Acapulco where they find out he had a secret second family. Complications ensue. Lovely scenes of Mexico City and Acapulco that defy stereotypes. Are these places really this nice? I hadn't thought so. Above average, though predictable.

I purchased the DVD because of the high reviews, but I didn't find it very entertaining. Watched it twice and fell asleep both times. Maybe too much on the drama side for me. Cute guys, but the director is careful not to show you much.