Temblores

I admire the subtlety of Jayro Bustamante’s storytelling. It was of a fascinating beauty in “Ixcanul”, his first feature, fairly celebrated in Berlin (and all over the world). I feel a kind of magic in the little distance he manages to maintain between our eyes and his characters, whom he tends to protect emotionally. Some might consider that distance a cold hearted treatment of trauma/pain. But I happen to like the elegance of his choices, avoiding pathos, and yet sharing part of the intimate drama his characters experience. JB is not so much into tears although a little shouting/screaming might please him from time to time. And he seems particularly careful with the phrasing of love. Maybe those families are not particularly open to such demonstrations? “Temblores” has some features of a manifesto against alienation. And yet, showing freedom as little appealing, the viewer might wonder about his intentions. An extremely good looking middle aged man leaving wealth and a beautiful wife for slums and an average looking drunkard lover would make anyone wonder/hesitate. Love - but is it genuine love Pablo feels - easily transforms into a vain infatuation with the help, thank you wealth, of needles, cold showers and closeted lesbians... Gorgeous aesthetics, very convincing actors, and a quite disturbing story... Not to miss!