5 Movies Starring Ernesto Gèmez Cruz

Life Sentence

Life Sentence

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1979-08-09

Languages:

Spanish

Countries:

Mexico

Runtime:

95 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (116 Reviews)

Director:

Arturo Ripstein

Cast:

Writer:

Vicente Leèero

Arturo Ripstein

Luis Spota (novel)

Fullplot:

"El Tarzan" Lira is an ex-convict who decides to give up his criminal past and reform his life. However, a corrupt policeman blackmails him leaving "El Tarzan" no other option but to continue committing robberies. Adapting the genre conventions of the film noir to the Mexican context, Ripstein's film focuses on Mexican police corruption and questions the judicial system.

El Norte

El Norte

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1984-01-27

Languages:

Spanish, Maya, English

Countries:

UK, USA

Runtime:

141 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.8 (3553 Reviews)

Director:

Gregory Nava

Fullplot:

Mayan Indian peasants, tired of being thought of as nothing more than "brazos fuertes" ("strong arms", i.e., manual laborers) and organizing in an effort to improve their lot in life, are discovered by the Guatemalan army. After the army destroys their village and family, a brother and sister, teenagers who just barely escaped the massacre, decide they must flee to "El Norte" ("the North", i.e., the USA). After receiving clandestine help from friends and humorous advice from a veteran immigrant on strategies for traveling through Mexico, they make their way by truck, bus and other means to Los Angeles, where they try to make a new life as young, and undocumented immigrants.

Midaq Alley

Midaq Alley

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1998-03-06

Languages:

Spanish

Countries:

Mexico

Runtime:

140 min

Rated:

UNRATED

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (2013 Reviews)

Director:

Jorge Fons

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Vicente Leèero (screenplay)

Naguib Mahfouz (novel)

Fullplot:

Based on the Nobel Prize Winner's novel, the Egyptian Naguib Mahfouz. The story, translated from El Cairo to Mexico City's downtown, narrates the life of the members of the neighbourhood and the connection between them Don Ru, the owner of the local pub; Eusebia, his wife; Chava, his son and Abel his friend, who emigrate to USA in search of fortune; Susanita, the single landtender always dreaming to marry a good man; Guicho, the pub's employee, who extracts the money when Don Ru is not there and finally marries Susanita; Alma, the very good looking girl, the Abel's dream, who becomes a luxury prostitute while he's away; Jimmy, the handsome young man Don Ru becomes infatuated with, etc. This movie won the Ariel (the Mexican Oscar) as best movie in 1995.

Deseos

Deseos

Basic Info:

Languages:

Spanish

Countries:

Mexico

Runtime:

98 min

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (41 Reviews)

Director:

Rafael Corkidi

Genres:

DramaFantasy

Cast:

Writer:

Rafael Corkidi

Carlos Illescas

Agustèn Yèèez (novel)

Fullplot:

El Narco

El Narco

Basic Info:

Released Date:

2010-09-03

Languages:

Spanish

Countries:

Mexico

Runtime:

145 min

Rated:

NC-17

IMDB Ratings:

7.9 (5089 Reviews)

Director:

Luis Estrada

Cast:

Writer:

Luis Estrada (screenplay)

Luis Estrada (story)

Jaime Sampietro (screenplay)

Jaime Sampietro (story)

Fullplot:

Benjamin Garcia, Benny, is deported from the United States. Back home and against a bleak picture, Benny gets involved in the narco business, in which has for the first time in his life, an spectacular rise surrounded by money, women, violence and fun. But very soon he'll discovers that criminal life does not always keeps his promises. Epic black comedy about the world of Mafia and organized crime, HELL helps us to understand what everybody is asking: What is happening in Mexico today?

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