This film was so derided in Mexico City, where it was filmed and set, that it was withdrawn from exhibition after only three days. It's easy to see why that would be the case due to it's bleak and realistic portrayal of poverty in the city.
In a slum in Mexico City, Jaibo (Roberto Cobo) escapes from juvenile prison and rejoins the street gang he leads. After beating up a blind man, Jaibo uses Pedro (Alfonso Mejía) to find Julian who supposedly put him in jail and kills him. Pedro is filled with guilt and tries to make an honest living but it continually by Jaibo which only lands Pedro in more trouble.
Luis Buñel is known for his surrealist work and so I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a film which takes many cues from the neorealism movement. Buñel couldn't help but put in a handful of surrealist moments, most notably a dream sequence, but even these are more meaningful than most of his work.
The film is a bleak depiction of poverty. The setting is almost incidental really the film even suggests it could be set in pretty much any major city. I was fascinated how every single character, even the horrible Jaibo, has at least one moment where you feel sympathy for them whilst at the same time every single character does something pretty awful. The film seems to suggest that these people act in terrible ways because of the terrible lives they lead. It's notable how there are very few responsible adults around and we gradually learn that they have died.
I don't think I've ever seen the word "Fin" appear over such a bleak final shot. Buñel doesn't try to look for answers to what is happening, for the situation these kids find themselves in, he simply says "this is the way it is". I think what's quite disconcerting as a viewer 75 years later is that it doesn't feel like much has changed- scenes similar to those depicted in this film happen in the world's cities every day.
I've struggled with Buñel's previous film, admiring his talent in the technical side of things but never really feeling much from his films. The script he co-wrote wrote here is incredible and full of emotion. You can see the direct link between this and films like City of God but if I was to compare it to something recent it would be Adolescence- it's gripping and heart-breaking to watch, highlighting social issues without providing any answers.
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