by Sam Beresky
Daily Lobo
"Lucia Lucia," the latest film from Mexican director Antonio Serrano, throws a fantasy world of children's books, multi-generational sex, mid-life boredom, gained love, lost love, weapons dealers, fake unions, foiled money exchanges in blue suitcases, gay porn theaters and even a story of self-discovery, into a mix-matched medley of scenes.
"Lucia Lucia," based on the book Daughter of the Cannibal by Rosa Montero, is an introspective movie of self discovery disguised as a mystery-comedy with some interesting plot twists.
Lucia (Cecilia Roth) is a middle-aged author of children's books who becomes bored with her life, especially her husband Ramon. Lucky for her, Ramon is kidnapped during the movie's first scene. Or was he? In Lucia's quest to find her husband she is befriended by her elderly downstairs neighbor Felix (Carlos Alvarez-Novoa) and her handsome 25-year-old upstairs neighbor Adrian (Kuno Becker).
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The unlikely threesome, representing three distinct generations, quickly becomes involved in the love of each other and the unraveling mystery of Ramon's disappearance. They uncover and eventually exchange gobs and gobs of pesos - in a gay porn theater no less - for the release of Ramon, but discover nothing concrete.
The reason nothing solid is uncovered is that the story switches from reality to Lucia's fantasies quite readily, but the audience never exactly knows what to believe. The plot quickly becomes muddled.
Fortunately, it doesn't matter all that much if fantasy or reality is on the screen. The hi-jinks and adventures of the three neighbors are entertaining enough. The characters somehow get into a taxicab exchange sequence that is both melancholy and humorous, are abducted by the minister of finance of Mexico and discover corruption. They eventually take an epic road-trip to the United States border and participate in a gigantic country line-dance to the music of a Spanish language version of "Achy, Breaky, Heart."
Even though the plot will lose most casual viewers, the wonderful cinematography of Mexico City and the mountains beyond will keep some audience members' attention - the deep symbolism, introspection, great acting and beauty of the lives portrayed in the movie will hold the attention of the rest.
If only the fantasy and reality of Lucia's life had been somewhat clearer and the plot itself not quite so bogged down in its own twists, "Lucia Lucia" could have been a great film.
With that said, it is still worth seeing. The closing line of the film would end anything nicely, even this review: "there will always be beauty."
"Lucia Lucia" is showing at Madstone Theaters.
