Sundance Journal 2009 Day 2: Carlos Cuaron’s Rudo y Cursi

Working with a long camera lense, I was able to take some quick pics on the red (more like brown) carpet (see below) before taking a seat for the international premiere to Carlos Cuarón‘s feature length feature debut at the Eccles. The first project out of the Cha Cha Cha prod co. (a collective tha includes producers/directors Alfonso and Guillermo del Toro), this got quickly picked up by Sony Pictures Classics just prior to the fest and almost one month after an amazing opening late last year in native Mexico. I think they made a sound foreign film investment, which will only prep us up for more Spanish language fair later this year with Pedro’s next.

Bernal and Diego Luna are a great pairing, and the film’s screenplay is solid and benefits from a generous helping of laugh-out-loud moments via brotherly love and this endless rivalry. The look of the film matches that of Cuaron’s brother’s work on Y Tu Mamá También – a grainy aesthetic that gives a sense of what the outskirts of Mexico looks and feels like, it supplements some of the witty comedic moments – for those who eventually see the film I suggest holding off on the viral clip going around featuring a tacky, music video — watching it within the context of the film is pure euphoria.