Mariachi Gringo

EL MARIACHI GRINGO is a little film with a quiet but sincere message. It is obviously a low budget film based on a screenplay by Cory Krueckenberg and directed sympathetically by Tom Gustafson, both men rather new to these two role assignments. The reason the film works is the sense of honesty about it.

The film opens in Kansas were life is rather boring, especially for a 30-year-old young man Edward (Shawn Ashmore), on some medication for what seems to be a form of mental illness, who still lives with his parents (Kate Burton and Tom Wopat) and has not found a direction for his life. He has studied music, plays the guitar occasionally, and one day he wanders into a town Mexican restaurant called El Mariachi where he is befriended by Rosario (Yareli Arizmendi) and Alberto (Fernando Becerril) who plays guitar and sings to the customers. Alberto shares his basement model of the city of Guadalajara where he recalls singing with the Mariachis in Mariachi Square who simply make a living singing for the people to help them celebrate their lives. Edward absorbs the dream of playing music for the people, takes lessons in Mariachi from Alberto, settles with his disapproving parents, and is off to Mexico. At first out of place in Guadalajara he soon meets Lilia (the very beautiful and talented Martha Higareda) working in her mother Magdalena's (Adriana Barraza) café. With Lilia (who had studied in Santa Cruz, CA and longs to go back to her dream) and Mariachi singer Sophia (Lila Downs) he is introduced to the field of real Mariachi singing, becomes accepted as the Gringo Mariachi, wins some fame, but after a brief trip back to Kansas for an unexpected funeral, Edward returns to Guadlajara to find things have changed - but he still has followed his dream and is quietly happy.

There are significant subplots that aren't well explored, but the film does not try to be anything it isn't - it is just about following your dreams no matter the obstacles or consequences or surprises. The cast is competent, the music is a highlight, and the take away feeling is one of tenderness and caring.

Grady Harp

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's a movie about finding your dream; about stepping outside the box, and not being afraid to try something new and different. The movie is about Edward, a young man who wants to be a mariachi. In his quest, we are shown the beautiful traditional culture that makes up Mexico. As a teacher, I endeavor to expose my students to Mexican culture by singing "Las Mañanitas" to them, explaining how mariachis are hired to sing the traditional birthday song to a loved one. How they typically come in the morning and sing outside her window. In this movie, my students will get to see this. I explain to them about the Mariachi culture, and this movie shows this. I teach them about "El día de los muertos" and this movie has beautiful scenes on this. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Watching this movie, you will see the many wonderful Mexican traditions as Edward goes about finding himself. And if that isn't enough, we are treated to Lila Down's beautiful voice, and beautiful Mariachi music. They tried to pack a lot in to this movie, and that might be the reason for its lack of transition, but in my estimation it makes up for it in heart.

What a wonderful movie! It introduced me to Mariachi music. I've never seen any of the actors before, but they all delivered excellent performances, especially Canadian actor Shawn Ashmore in the lead role as the Gringo who moves from thoroughly white bread Kansas to Guadalajara to become not only a Mariachi singer, but to become completely immersed in Mexican culture. I've always enjoyed cross cultural, and counter culture movies, and this one hits a home run!

Of course the blue eyed, blond gringo takes a tremendous risk going to Mexico to take up the most Mexican genre of music, but he succeeds gloriously, and the initially skeptical Mexican audiences are impressed by his sincerity and talent, and thrilled at his success. It is one thing to be born into a culture, quite another to adopt it as your own.

Refreshingly, Ashmore plays a straight man who is comfortable enough within his own sexuality to dance with a gay guy at a gay bar.

Lila Downs is another cross-cultural and multi cultural standout in Gringo Mariachi. One of the few people on earth who sings in English, Spanish, Mayan, Mixtec, Zapotec, Purepecha and Nahautl (Aztec). Downs was born in Oaxaca, Mexico to an American father, and a Mexican mother, and has lived and worked in both countries.

There's much potential in this out-of-the-ordinary tale about a young Kansan seeking adventure in Mexico. There's a worthy cast, colorful settings, sharp photography, and a fetching soundtrack.

What's missing is a smooth, coherent narrative that deeply involves the viewer in this lad's south-of-the-border quest. Unfortunately, the narrative is rather disjointed and uneven, preventing the viewer an opportunity to fully understand character motivation.

Our hero isn't the most charismatic character, and the script doesn't help clarify matters. The mariachi music is fine per se, though it's not very smoothly integrated into the narrative. It's a pity, for there are fine basic ingredients that could have been better blended into the whole.

While "Mariachi Gringo" was for me an adequate watch, it's unlikely to prompt a Mexican trip.

Gutsy, warm film. A great movie for your heart and soul.