Por la libre

While definitely not as popular as the later "Y tu Mama' tambien", "Por La Libre" is a slice of dysfunctional family life among Mexico City's "fresa" or elite class. The film takes its name from a colloquial expression referring to traveling on Mexican roads; you can go on the toll roads (de cuota) or the federal/free ones "por la libre"...a point which the two cousins argue over that ultimately influences the entire direction of their trip/the film. The cinematography and overall was definitely well done, but the overall "feel" of the film really doesn't do justice to Mexican cinema. In fact, though it does manage to capture/portray many of the most common hypocritical and distasteful aspects of upper-class Mexican society (especially those with Spanish emigres among them), the film comes off more as Spanish (maybe because of the patriarch and his friend having such prominent roles). Interesting...but not at all ground-breaking.