Within Mexican cinema it is common for many films to be “canned”. In other words, after filming and the post-production process, they are “saved” for a few years until they can finally hit theaters. However, the case of The woman of the portdirected by Arturo Ripstein, is a very special one. 32 years after its first showing, and after passing through some festivals, the film will finally have a massive premiere in Mexican theaters. Here we present the trailer and everything you need to know.
What is it about?
Perla is a teenager who works as a dancer in a cabaret and who, at the same time, is prostituted by Tomasa, her mother. Soon her life changes for her when she meets “El Marro”, a sick sailor who falls madly in love with her and becomes involved in an unbridled passionate relationship. The truth is that Tomasa will try by all means to end that relationship, since both young people are actually brothers.
Cast
The woman of the port has the performance of the first actress Patricia Reyes Spindola (The devil between the legs) as the Tomasa complex. Evangelina Sosa (Herod’s law) gives life to Pearl, while a young man Damian Alcazar (Blue Beetle) brings “El Marro” to life. In the cast we can also find Alejandro Parodi (Difficult days), Alonso Echanove (four moons), Jorge Fegan (Red Dawn) and Ernesto Yanez (pastorela).
The direction of the tape is in charge of Arthur Ripstein (The devil between the legs), while the script is from the well-known Peace Alicia Garciadiego (The colonel has no one to write to him). The argument is based on a novel by the French Guy de Maupassant. Previously, The woman of the port it was adapted twice. One in 1933starring Andrea Palma and Domingo Soler, and another in 1949with María Antonieta Pons and Víctor Junco.
Why is it worth giving it a try?
If the synopsis makes something clear to us, it is that it is a strong and, in a way, moving story. Although Mexican cinema already had unusual stories to its credit, The woman of the port (Arturo Ripstein version) It occurred at a time when the figure of a prostitute protagonist was not exactly popular. Nor was it common to have a mother like Tomasa or an incestuous romance between its protagonists. There were already two previous adaptations of the story, but both were released at a different time for the national film industry.
That new awakening of Mexican cinema, where they broke with the stereotypes imposed by the so-called “golden age”, was the perfect moment to launch a film like this. One that exposed social reality, that presented intense stories and annoyed those who supported “good manners” even in the movies. Curiously, its directors affirm that the current times are the best to see a film like this (via Excelsior).
“We have become a world of prudes and complainers. It’s frightening, they shock me, so this film goes against good consciences”, Garciadiego mentioned. “It is a groundbreaking film, something more or less sought after, but achieved, because one believes that one films what one films, but what turns out turns out. And sometimes it’s an abyss between what one thinks it’s going to be and what it is. And yes, in this case what we wanted was to annoy slightly, and This prudish world is going to annoy a little moreRipstein concluded.
When it premieres The woman of the portby Arthur Ripstein?
The film will hit theaters in Mexico starting this August 24, 2023. This is a remastered version courtesy of Alfhaville Cinema.
Poster
official trailer for The woman of the port
Juan Jose Cruz I am one of those who always defended Robert Pattinson as Batman and can see the same movie in the theater up to 7 times. My guilty pleasure? Low budget horror movie.