Parfum de violettes

I used to live in Mexico and this was definitely the best movie I saw there, and by far the best movie ever made on the life of the poor people of La Ciudad de México. Although Mexico to me is a very distinct place from the one described by the movie, it was shocking to see that these people living in true agony passed by the same places where I'd been and took the same bus as I did. It gave me a totally new perspective on my ride when I sat on that bus again the next morning. Life to most people on this planet is extremely cruel, but sometimes we seem to forget it, even if it's right beneath your very own eyes. Perfume de violetas opened my eyes; I think it would be good to remember that there are over 20 million people living in Mexico City, with the number rising by nearly 3000 every day, and that most people aren't even as well-off as Yessica, and definitely not as lucky as Miriam. Viva Mexico, eh!?!

Almost a new generation Italian neo-realist film minus the political commitment, plus a sense that there is more to suffering than poverty alone: decades of social fragmentation and of "me" ideology have left us all as closed as Leibnitzian windowless monads: packed everywhere, but incapable of any elementary form of communication.

The Italian neo-realists, more or less close to various forms of socialism, had here and there glimpse of (naive, as it was to be seen) hope into the "new man." No such feeling is present here. The sky has closed upon us and is not going to open anytime soon.

All in all, a superb, if terribly dramatic film. The final scene is an absolute masterpiece, hinting at unspeakable horrors directed towards the already beaten, raped, and victimized protagonist, with the exquisite restrain not to show them at all.

A great film, which takes on important themes (sexual violence among teenagers, the dissolution of family and social bonds, the apathy of society towards "inconvenient" realities) without puritan restrain but without unnecessary gore. Highly recommended.

This is one of those Mexican movies that really deserve to be exposed all over the world. Today's Mexican Cinema is dedicated to show the the Mexican culture and its daily life and this movie just does that perfectly without falling within the Mexican movie clichè of unnecessary violence, sex and drug scenes.

The movie is crude, that's true, but at the same time its also very realistic and you commonly see all those same situations within the daily life of the urban poor circles back in Mexico City, although some of those practices are repressed and therefore not openly done.

This movie completely features the not-so-nice side of Mexican society and its practices and common life.

The main character, Yessica, is a tomboy who is often in trouble. As a result, she is transferred to a new school, where she meets Miriam, who lives with her mother in what seems to Yessica like luxury. While Miriam's mother's main concern is saving enough money to get a better television, Yessica doesn't even have a bedroom to sleep in or money for the most basic school supplies. When Yessica's step-brother arranges for her to be raped, things go from bad to worse. In her environment she doesn't feel like there is anyone she can tell, so she must suffer silently, which reminded me of how the women in "Missing Young Woman" were often not missed.

This film, which was Mexico's nomination for best foreign language film of 2001, is difficult to watch, but it's worth the effort. My notes also indicate that I liked the soundtrack. Seen at Cinequest (the San Jose, CA film festival) on 2/27/2002.

It was shocking to see how nobody is able or willing to help in a critical abuse situation. The main character is abused by family, teachers and classmates in different ways, being ignorance the origin of this kind of abuse. When this girl suffers a sexual attack, things just get worse. The only reason she has to smile is friendship, which she finally destroys because of her distorted values and social skills.