Released Date:
1978-04-28
Languages:
Spanish
Countries:
Mexico
Runtime:
110 min
IMDB Ratings:
7.7 (530 Reviews)
Director:
Arturo RipsteinGenres:
DramaJosè Donoso (novel)
Josè Donoso (screenplay)
Josè Emilio Pacheco
Arturo Ripstein
Family honor, greed, machismo, homophobia, and the dreams of whores collide in a Mexican town. Rich, elderly Don Alejo is poised to sell the town for a profit, needing only to buy a whorehouse to own all the buildings and close the deal. It's owned by a man and his daughter: Manuelita is gay, aging, afraid; he cross-dresses and entertains as a flamenco dancer; he wants to sell and leave. His daughter wants to stay. The return of Pancho complicates things: he's a hothead Alejo tries to control and he scared Manuelita the year before. Things come to a head as Pancho breaks Alejo's hold on him, then flirts and dances with Manuelita and finds himself at risk of being called a "maricèn."
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