Amar te duele

Does anyone actually WATCH this thing?, wells, Fernando Sariñana did something that was thought to be utterly impossible, he released two movies the same year in a motion picture industry that has been in crisis for most of its lifespan, but, once you see either one of them (the other release being "Ciudades Oscuras") you can easily get to the conclusion that Sariñana should have saved the problem........ Regarding "Amar te duele", it´s suposed to be a "urban" take on "Romeo and Juliet" on Mexico in the shopping mall arena. Think of it as the worst parts of "Mallrats" crossed with any mexican soap opera, it has the regular pack of stereotyped characters, lousy class-z acting, the directing work is practically non-existent, it shifts (inexplicable) from color to black and white (maybe in some sort of private homage to euro-cinema or God Knows why) there are some nude breast scenes which add absolutely nothing to the "story", character development (also something absent from the film) a retarded brother (which tries in a lame fashion to show us what a good brother the lead character is) some incredibly cheesy dialogue and a predictable death scene. As mentioned above, it is suposed to be based in "Romeo and Juliet" but can be easily seen that it was in de Bar Lhuzman version rather than Shakespeare. Mexican cinema is said to be in a rebirth process and the (mexican) media is making quite a hype. Watching this kind of movies really makes you wonder why the hell they are saying that!. Conclusion: AVOID! zero stars out of 5

It is a good idea, however the execution fails.

Sariñana copies a lot of scenes from several movies, however he doesn't seem to have a style of his own. One scene is a shameful Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet rip-off, but without Luhrmann's artistry.

So many different styles crammed into one film doesn't make any good...

Also, acting of most secondary actors is very, very flat.

Dialogues aren't that good... teenagers don't talk that way.

And there are two completely unnecessary nude scenes (not full, only from the waist up).

I consider "Amar Te Duele" as the child of a dull MTV video clip and a standard Televisa telenovela (soap opera).

Compared to "Ciudades Oscuras" (wich came out the same year) the movie is very bad, yes, it's a new story in Mexican Cinema of the New Millenium, still it's a very used issue, the social difference between lovers. But let's forget the plot, and go to the direction, why the hell this guy used so many effects !!, I mean, it's good to stablish a point of view with experimental shots, but this guy totally obsesed with visual effects, i know we should blame photography director, but HEY! the director is the one with the vision ! 2 out of 5. The actress is the only good thing in the movie. =))

"Amar te Duele", as well as some recent films from Mexico, introduces international audiences into an inside look of the society south of the border. Director Eduardo Sarinana clearly demonstrates he is an original. In many ways this movie presents the ugly side of discrimination in that country. In a way, the screen play, by Carolina Rivera, capitalizes in a variation of the Romeo and Juliet story, as it presents us with a couple of teen agers in love, each one coming from different worlds.

Ulises, the graffiti artist and comic book writer, is a young man with a lot of talent. His only problem is being poor and coming from the type of family the upper classes of Mexico look down upon because of being 'brown' instead as pure white. Ulises doesn't have anything to be ashamed of; he comes from a loving home where both parents work in their modest business.

Enter the lovely Renata. She is a girl of privilege. We see her and her friends roaming the local mall doing what that type of girl with money and credit cards take for granted. On a dare, she goes to Ulises, who is following her and kisses him, thus setting things in motion for the tragedy that will follow.

Mr. Sarinana is an innovative director. He incorporates some of the popular culture into the film. In a great sequence, we are shown, in split screens and in comic book fashion different aspects of what Ulises has been doing, complete with captions. It is a brilliant departure for traditional Mexican film making. The use of color and black and white is quite remarkable, as it adds another layer to the texture of the finished product.

Unfortunately, the story is doomed from the start. We know how things work and realize there could be no justice, or mercy, for Ulises. For that matter, Renata will not be able to find happiness because in her world, certain things can't be tolerated.

The director gets good performances of his young cast. Luis Fernando Pena and Martha Higareda, as Ulises and Renata, are appealing as the young lovers. Mr. Sarinana also gets great performances of the large ensemble cast.

"Amar te Duele" is worth a look to acquaint yourself with a fine film maker to be reckoned with.

Poor (as in no money) Ulises hangs out with his buddies, skates (skateboards), and makes murals using spray paint on available walls. He works with his father selling stuff at an open air market, and attends high school. One day he makes eye contact with Renata, a girl from an upper class family, while at a trendy mall. They follow each other around, and she kisses him. Thus begins this movie. Their unlikely romance blossoms amidst the background of their social differences, and is doomed from the start. The differing social worlds of the two lovers clash in a memorable fight scene outside Renata's private high school. Renata's sister is a closet alcoholic, her ex-boyfriend is bitter and jealous about losing her to Ulises, and is decisive in the film's ending. The Mexico City locales and musical soundtrack are terrific.