La hija del caníbal

If you expect the plot in this Mexican pseudo-thriller to make sense, or be suspenseful, you are bound to be disappointed. The crux of this movie are the relationships and mid-life recentering that go on in Lucia's (Cecilia Roth) life. Her husband disappears, and she rushes to find him. Along the way she is befriended by an old ex-rebel communist and a young man who falls in love with her despite her wishes otherwise. These two friends come to take precedence in her life as she realized she doesn't really like her husband, and wants to live her own life. When she eventually tracks down her husband, she wishes him well and they go their separate ways. I didn't dislike the film even despite its weakness. I was interested to see how Lucia discovered herself and grew closer to and pushed away those around her.

This movie is like a veggie burger with eggplant in place of beef, covered in lettuce and tomatoes and sauce. When you first bite in, the first thing you taste is the bun and the lettuce. Then as you chew, you see that there is sauce, tomato and eggplant, but no meat. Try as you might, it's just not the same without meat. It might be not be disappointing if it were packaged a salad between bread, but as a substitute for a burger, it just doesn't satisfy. 5/10

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(2003) Lucia, Lucia/ La hija del caníbal (In Spanish with English subtitles) THRILLER

Adapted from the novel by Rosa Montero, co-written and directed by Antonio Serrano involving a middle age wife Lucia (Cecilia Roth) who has learned that her husband has been kidnapped with a huge demand she unknowingly knew nothing about. And as the movie progresses the husband's kidnapping unfolds Lucia welcomes two tenants of Felix (Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa) and Adrian (Kuno Becker) into the mystery as well as the money.

Intriguing and baffling with some twists and unexpected turns some of the moments between Lucia and her three leads is similar to the average Pedro Aldomovar movie.

Wasn't this supposed to be the summer of only dumb sequels for teenagers?

So what a surprise that we have a virtual trilogy of intelligent foreign films about women of a certain age with strong, sexy imaginations and time on their hands to meet up with unexpected strangers, in "Swimming Pool" then "Friday Night (Vendredi Soir)" and now "Lucia, Lucia (La Hija del canibal)."

"Lucia" is unexpectedly the funniest of the three, a delightfully wry black comedy with twists on expectations that the storyteller turns on herself constantly as she bonds in an odd three-some with her neighbors, an elderly ex-revolutionary and a young hunk.

While based on a novel, it seems like a gender/generational response to the Mexican teen-age road movie "Y Tu Mama Tambien," in the classic tradition of women's response songs to hits (as in "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"), complete with a country line dance scene as a relaxing break from political intrigue and marital secrets exposed while Lucia searches for her kidnapped husband -- and herself.

One of the running jokes is how the older generations can still surprise the young 'uns.

I just finished watching the movie, I saw it at the blockbuster store and didn't want to rent it because I thought it was really bad, however, I just rented it anyways.... I am not going to tell you what this movie is about, but what I think about the movie (I have never studied cinema or anything, so, please tae this just as a comment from an excentric person)

This movie has the lost mexican touch from the seventies, with the political yell from this decade (2000-2009). Funny indeed, but also dramatical and

superficial, with the magical mexican touch of surrealism (which Jodorowsky

excelled in his films, shooted in Mexico, like El Topo and Holy Mountain)

The political yell I am referring here is the one that has come out in cinema in mexico this decade, in movies that include: La ley de Herodes (Herodes' Law)

among others. It is NOT a Hollywood movie, so please do not expect a huge budget movie

with huge SFX, instead a more tight budget movie, with a nice story to tell

This movie is once again the reflection of the mexican society:

First of all: The magic and beauty of the unbeauty that comes from surrealism, which is the same as Mexico and it's people, how they live and think, which is a surreal way of thinking, and as most of us think surrealistic, the mexican culture and society tend to be more surreal (giving you a fantastic photography of the horrible but beautiful)

Secondly: The political yell; this is because of the oppression and corruption mexican people had to suffer all these years, where they just work oppressively receiving nothing but LESS buying power and MORE frustration (this is related once again to surrealism), where only a few are priviliged (this is a lot more notable when you go south of America) Political screams is an escape valve to that oppression, and this movie is one of that kind

If you have had the chance to see mexican cinema, this is a nice example (not the best, though) to watch it. I may just dare to say this movie is a lot like the french cinema, only with less introspectiveness (as the french cinema tends to be [not all of it of course, but it's a cultural thing, which gives a flavor to each cinema of the world])

Well... all in all this movie is a Superb, with brilliant direction and photography, however, not very appreciated by some critics..... ...by the way, I almost forgot to tell you, I loved the way the movie begins

On 30 December, in the airport of Mexico City, the husband of Lucia (Cecilia Roth) vanishes a few minutes before the last call to the flight to Rio de Janerio, where they are going to see the reveillon in Copacabana. Lucia goes to the police to report the disappearance, and back home, she is mainly supported by two neighbors, the seventy years old Félix (Carlos Álvarez-Novoa) and the young man Adrián (Kuno Becker). Together, they look for Lucia's husband, in a journey of friendship, love and self-discovery for Lucia. Alternating the reality and the imagination of the character of Lucia, who is the narrator of the story, "La Hija del Cannibal" is a delightful, intriguing and original tale. The mysterious story is very unpredictable, and includes a tough critics to the corruption of the Mexican government. Cecilia Roth is excellent and very charming, as usual, very well-supported by Carlos Álvarez-Novoa and Kuno Becker. I liked this movie a lot and highly recommended as a very fresh screenplay. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Aos Olhos de Uma Mulher" ("Through the Eyes of a Woman")