Silent Light

After I read the synopsis on this movie, I didn't know it included, literally, everything shown in the movie. I mean, I can tell you in one paragraph everything that happens in this movie, and you know I'm all for movies that show more depth and less action but this one goes to the far end. I could place Carlos Reygadas as the exact opposite of James Cameron, he tells a good story, I liked the story, but in such a slow way, that it makes it a bit painful to watch. ( you can always play it in fast forward, as not much is being said either.) (Cameron for example, takes an average story, but makes it colorful and dynamic... fun to watch)

Considering the fast rythm of hollywood movies we're used to, I wouldn't recommend this movie. I figure, if i've "trained" my movie watching by opening up my spectrum to lots of foreign and independent movies, I think I'm used to "slower" films...but this one just takes the "Old Honey" price for being the slowest thing out there.

So, having tackled the slowness of it all, I think the story is good, the main character is colorful, and the conflict is real. Johan is a menonita, sort of like a modern life Amish of German ascent settled in the high plains of Northern Mexico. He has fallen in love with another woman and has been open about it to his wife, whom is feeling deep pain. (hell yeah, I could even nominate her for a best supporting actress role). These people lead a very simple life style and their deep religous beliefs and traditions make a real problem of this diversion from the straight expected path.

Overall, I think this is a good picture of a lifestyle we're not familiar with or we just tend to ignore, so for that, kudos to Carlos Reygadas. His recognition has come from personalities like Roger Ebert, Martin Scorcese, Manohla Dargis and a Jury price from Cannes... and so I don't feel compelled to give him any more recognition than that. My readership should be warned, that although I found the thematic of this film very interesting, I found the film itself very boring as I thought this story could've been told in half the time... but that's just me.

Watch it (this is like 2 out of 5 stars) but be warned, or altogether Avoid it if you only have so much time to watch some other good movies. But, if you don't expect as much as I was expecting from it, you might, not enjoy it, but probably find it interesting (Arghh, such a fine line to draw). Later dudes... Taco time!