Dioses

(2008) Gods/ Dioses (In Spanish with English subtitles) DRAMA

Co-produced, co-written and directed by Josué Méndez directing a no plot movie except that we are invested with the characters. Andrea (Anahí de Cárdenas) is partying while her brother, Diego (Sergio Gjurinovic) continues to stare at her as she is making out with the guy on the dance floor. And when she drags her beau to the bathroom, Diego follows. Diego is then becomes frustrated when he is shoved out of the way, he vents his anger leaving the nightclub and heading back home. Diego's dad, Agustin (Edgar Saba) then growls at him. Diego then heads to the kitchen where he seeks the most comfort are it's maids of Nelly (Hermelinda Luján) and Inés (Magaly Solier). On the following morning, we then see Diego eating cereal when his dad scowls at him to fetch his sister. And by the time he gets her to the breakfast table, it is during then he introduces them to his new girlfriend, Elisa (Maricielo Effio).

Despite depicting a wealthy household the thing is no matter how much money they have that they can have just as much problems as anyone else. It is obvious the servants were not paid enough once we see the rut one of the servants were living in. The only thing that is baffling is that according to the database it says that the running time is 2 hours but it is like as soon as I was able to see it shown on streaming it says the running time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Go figure!

I'm impressed by the likeness of people, no matter what country or ethnicity they are. I'm sure most families in the same class have similar situations, I did myself.

How jealously plays a role in all our lives. I had one who was jealous and the other became possessive over me. Sigmund Freud had some dead on theories and it shows in life as well as here. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a need to hide their past.

The Peruvian journalist Pedro Salinas writes, "Behind Gods, the movie, lurks a revolutionary, a teacher from the magic of living, who at the point of close-ups and frames studied achieved a description of one of the usual problems of Peru... Mendez set out boldly onto the screen his vision of a minority of Peruvian in which everyone talks, they meet, they drink and they are happy, while another Peru, a most impoverished majority, serves the needs of this frivolous few." This richly drawn, psychologically complex film paints a dark picture of a privilege life side by side with poverty in Peru. But Mendez' use of a light hand, an unsparing humor, beautiful bodies and settings make for an enjoyable and thought provoking hour and a half.

Just saw this at the Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa. Among the variety of selections this year, I was most impressed with this film produced under the global lens initiative. The more we are afforded a glimpse into our global brothers and sisters, the more we can understand that we are alike. I commend the filmmaker for his honest commentary on what plagues us as a creature on this earth. As we race through our lives at breakneck speed, destroying all in our path, this film offers a pause to consider how removed we've become from ourselves, others emotionally and spiritually. I hope this film receives more screenings around the world to remind all of us of our mortality, and fallibility as humans. Provocative .