Sin dejar huella

Ana, a smuggler of counterfeit pre-Colombian artifacts, hitches a ride with Aurelia, a single mother fleeing a dead-end maquiladora job in Ciudad Juarez (and her drug-dealing boyfriend). The two women head for the Yucatan, Aurelia's infant son stowed in the back of her truck, and are pursued all the way by...whom? Both women have plenty of reasons to worry. In a Q&A session at the San Francisco Film Festival, where "Without a Trace" was shown, director Maria Novaro acknowledged her film's resemblance to "Thelma and Louise," but added that she wanted to make a movie "in which the women don't get punished." Besides being a humorous and revealing portrait of the two women and their reluctant friendship, the film subtly weaves in commentary about U.S.-Mexico border politics and the status of indigenous Mexicans. The soundtrack is outstanding: a combination of norteno "narco-corridas," with their sly commentary on drug smuggling; and playful yet haunting ballads of Veracruz and Yucatan, full of allusions to tropical fruits and animals. The two actresses give memorably rounded performances, with support from some excellent character actors and local Maya nonprofessionals. Another witty, energetic film from the director of "Danzon."

First, let us focus on the The Title's content and context:

What a pleasant surprise this little known Mexican film was! There were specific reasons I thoroughly enjoyed it: FIRST: WITHOUT A TRACE refers to one of the lead characters intention of escaping and disappearing from both her domineering boyfriend and also from her EX!

It was a true delight to watch the acting skills of Aitana Sanchez-Gijon and Tiare Scanda. They played off one another with uncanny dexterity. Writer/Director Maria Novaro must have established a great rapport with both of them, really managing to get their collective creative juices flowing.

"Huella" also highlights many of the regional and cultural differences, both within Mexico and particularly, between its two protagonists; one a working-class Mexican high school dropout, on the run from both her jealous Ex and her current fallen-in-with-the-wrong crowd boyfriend; and the other, representing Spain (but Mexican by birth), a very Euro-style, upper-middle class college graduate who majored in Mayan art but who now spends her time border-hopping and duping clueless American art-collectors with her spot on expertly-engineered and crafted Mayan forgeries.

Seeing as how I have driven through Mexico twice from Nogales to Tapachula, "Huella" brought back fond memories! If you'd like a firsthand look at some of the topographical, cultural and even musical differences found in diverse areas of the REAL Mexico, "Huella" is Your ticket! Most hardily Recommended for ALL of the following groups of viewers:

A) For everyone who has traveled or lived in any Hispanic country.

B) To ALL Spanish-speakers or those who are fluent.

C) To those who like travel or like road movies.... And...

D) Especially, to those who appreciate films where women are the central focus, behind the wheel, so to speak, ....and men take ....a back seat!

SIN DEJAR HUELLA serves as a rather effective vehicle for showcasing the considerable acting talents of both Aitana Sanchez -Gijon and Tiare Scanda... and clearly serves to display the often jaw-dropping landscapes so prevalent in Mexico!

If You are looking for pleasant ciematic surprises... SIN DEJAR HUELLA will probably surprise You with the innumerable number it will provide You in its 95 Minutes!

ENJOY/DISFRUTELA!

Only considerable for a good job of cinematography, if you consent to make a peep of the scenery, "Without A Trace(Sin dejar huella)" fails to deliver viewable coherence. The main flaw is that the subject and the happenings dis-accord together. Through trying to create the atmosphere of its origin, the Ridley Scott's Thelma&Louise, it doesn't aim any significant purpose; thus it can't make it up to the end for not remaining true to the beginning. Aurelia leaves her boyfriend, who is her only source of income, to stay with Ana-the outlaw. Although at the opening scenes where the characters were introduced, Aurelia seemed to have complete 4 scenes showing the proof of how she loves her children and how much she cares about their future. Basically, the whole movie fell to pieces scene after scene on and on, since our duo began to be chased by a mafia gang.

The links between the police, the detectives and the mafia gang were never tried to be built, leaving all the questions from the mystery unanswered. The mystery of being chased by a mafia gang erased the adventure/thriller essence out of the movie, and replaced it with a comedy that only non-sense B movies has. Director Maria Novaro has chosen a very wrong sub-genre, that ruins the whole effort. She should have worked better on editing this movie, at least. I won't even tell you how screenplay and the script is. Only consider that there is a 6 year-old boy acting pretty good, who is the only character in this film that has a mind.

In total there are 31 scenes that edited: 1 scene of crime, 2 scenes of action and 1 scene of mystery... The rest is drama(27 scenes). The subject of the crime scene is outstanding and its elements are somewhat considerable. Those 2 action scenes are nothing special; yet the scene of mystery as I explained earlier is a total mindless disappointment. Finally, the main drama scenes have dis-accord between the opening and the ending, and the ones that are on the middle is to fulfill the time and to send us to sleep with the aspects of cinematography. You'll end up with a bunch of "Why?" questions if you are a forbearing viewer.

It can be considerable only watching if you are expecting a huge company at your living room, like a friends+neighbors+colleagues meeting altogether. If you are celebrating something, put some music on, start a loud chat and watch this. Don't even try to hear or understand anything, just enjoy the sceneries, just enjoy what you see.

This movie is a delightful mixture of a comedy and a road movie: two good actresses, beautiful scenery of off the beaten track Mexico (the huge crumbling estate where the women stay at one point is quite stunning), and soulful Mexican songs with great lyrics. I liked the fact that the friendship that developed between the two women with very different backgrounds was actually believable and of course that, at the end, everybody got what they deserved. I really liked the songs played throughout the movie, especially since their lyrics were also translated for those like me who don't speak Spanish. Overall, a very pleasant watch.

It is just a supposition of mine that for co-production reasons, Spanish actress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón had to receive first credit, but in any case the real motor of this enjoyable road movie is beautiful Mexican actress Tiaré Scanda, who plays Aurelia, a single mother with a drug-dealing boyfriend, who takes her little son and decides to change everything in her life moving to Yucatán. On her way she meets Ana (Sánchez-Gijón), a smuggler of Mayan archaeological pieces, not only followed but courted by a Mexican detective. A good film, awarded in different film festivals, including Best Latin American Film at Sundance. Dialogue also spoken in Mayan.