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Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu Year: 2000 Language: Spanish (English Sub) Country: Mexico

This Mexican drama looks at love and loss, doing so by focusing on the stories of 3 individuals, each loosely connected by a car crash. The film starts with the pivotal car crash and a car chase which leads up to this important moment. We then go back to learn the lead up to this event through the story of Octavio (Gael García Bernal) and his relationship with the wife of his hot-headed brother. The other two storylines focus on a model who is starting a new life with her boyfriend after he has left his wife and a hitman who is estranged from his family and lives in a squat.

The film has a strong start, with the first story line being the most exciting, there's quite a bit of drama and action. There are a couple of cut-aways to the other storylines, but these are very minor and do little more than set up the characters. When the film makes it's transition to the second storyline, there is a complete change in tone and setting which is a bit strange if you're not expecting it.

Acting and direction is superb and while the first storyline is clearly the strongest and most interesting, the remainder of the film is good, but I found it less enjoyable than the start.

Overall, a good film with an interesting intertwining of storylines.

Dave W - 11th July, 2010 - 12:47