7/10
The other family
26 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Jean Paul and Chema are a gay couple that has been together for ten years. One can see their relationship is solid, proved to be real, as they decide to get married. In a macho dominated society the union between two men is a rarity that came to be legal only recently. It is clear these two men are in love and have decided to make a commitment that speaks loudly than words.

When Nina, a drug addict is sent to prison, her young son, Hendrix, is left to fend for himself. A friend, Ivana, a lesbian in a serious relationship with Gloria, decides to bring the boy to her friends Jean Paul and Chema. The men, uneasy at first, take a liking to the little boy whose innocence captures their hearts. After the initial misgivings, the couple end up loving Hendrix. Unfortunately, Nina wants her son back. Because of her connection with unsavory characters, the plight of the boy takes center stage for criminals that want to sell the boy to a wealthy couple. Jean Paul, and especially Chema, will fight to stand by the boy.

Directed by Gustavo Loza with sure hand, this Mexican entry surprises because of the way the subject matter is treated with honesty in dealing with the issue. Mr. Loza, who also wrote the screenplay, presents us with a drama that in other hands might have degenerated into a sensational account of the two gay couples that are being examined. That, and the fate of the boy, with an uncertain future, is examined with a clarity that speaks volumes as to the intentions of the creator of the film.

There are solid appearances by Jorge Salinas and Luis Guzman as Jean Paul and Chema. The actors do a solid job in the way they approached their roles to make them real. Young Bruno Loza, whom one suspects is the son of the director, is perfectly sweet, in a surprising performance. Ana Serradilla, Ana Soler, Nailea Norvind and the great Carmen Salinas contribute to the over all excellence of the film.
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