'PEDRO PÁRAMO' REVIEW: Ain't No Party Like A Mexican Magical Realism Party [3/5]
As Long As Someone Actually Brings the Magic
[Rating 3/5] - dir. Rodrigo Prieto - 2024 - Mexico - R - 2h 12m - Magical Realism
Juan Rulfo’s 1955 Mexican lit classic Pedro Páramo has got its first film adaptation in about half a century; however, the book has inspired scores of stories and lives inside of that time. The novel defined and continues to define the country’s particular, vivid takes on Magical Realism.
The story follows a kind, thoughtful man journeying to a Mexican town to see the father he’s never known. Soon after arriving in town, the man learns his father is dead, and had quite reputation when alive.
The story inspires — or at least implies — big questions about destiny and family and country, and Director Rodrigo Prieto doesn’t bring enough of his own magic and ingenuity to his film adaptation to provide satisfying answers.
Every one of the movie’s strengths — and there are some (setpieces, myth building) — come from the 1955 original novel.
So if you enjoy it, give the right person credit.
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P.S. I think this is a 3 and not a 2.5 because I just love the genre.
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Pedro Páramo is available on Netflix.
Best Line: “It doesn’t look abandoned. It is.”
[Rating 3/5] - dir. Rodrigo Prieto - 2024 - Mexico - R - 2h 12m - Magical Realism