*** This review may contain spoilers ***
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The Captives
Las cautivas (1973)
An unusual film, it reminds me of an unusual blending of Luis Bunuel and Pier Paolo Pasolini plus some Marxist subtext. The credits have it as being from a Carlos Fuentes (Mexican novelist) story.
At the start, a young woman gets picked up by two lecherous and drunk men in a car. They all go to some music club, trying to get her to a motel room. All of a sudden, the young woman starts yelling that her cigarette lighter has been stolen. It's an absurd scene and contrived, since loud music and dancing is occurring, but the whole room gets quiet. She asks for a police officer and they arrive instantly.
Then it cuts to some wealthy villa where it turns out the young woman is a housemaid to some spoiled and dull woman. Her wealthy husband has recently died, and we later learn that the wealthy young woman may have poisoned him. She also has a lover played by Jorge Rivero.
Jorge Rivero was a Mexican actor who appeared in a few American movies (The Last Hard Men (1976), Rio Lobo (1970), Soldier Blue (1970)). He was a weightlifter and starred in a few "El Santo" movies and plenty of low budget films like Pistoleros de la frontera (1967), Manaos (1979) and Evil Eye (1975).
The housemaid, who seems delusional and extremely jealous of being in a lowly position, blackmails the wealthy young woman, telling her that she has a cup that has poison residue in it. If she doesn't get what she wants, she will turn it in to the police.
Hence, roles are reversed and the wealthy young woman is at her mercy. She becomes her housemaid, while spiraling further into depression. She is also taking poison, and writing a note that incriminates the housemaid.
Later, more deception and double meaning happen, as Jorge Rivero was involved all along with the young woman housemaid, but then he sells her under the bus when police arrive at the house.
The end shot is duplicitous Jorge Rivero and the wealthy young woman at some picnic, and the camera focuses on the cup, signifying that he might be poisoning her.
Although there are some interesting dynamics, the film is largely average. But nonetheless it is an amusing film from the era. It has a 1960's keyboard track that is overused, and a music club scene as well.
In Spanish with no subtitles.
See also:
End of the Party (1972)
La máxima felicidad (1982)
Verano ardiente (1971)
*Plot and ending analyzed*
The Captives
Las cautivas (1973)
An unusual film, it reminds me of an unusual blending of Luis Bunuel and Pier Paolo Pasolini plus some Marxist subtext. The credits have it as being from a Carlos Fuentes (Mexican novelist) story.
At the start, a young woman gets picked up by two lecherous and drunk men in a car. They all go to some music club, trying to get her to a motel room. All of a sudden, the young woman starts yelling that her cigarette lighter has been stolen. It's an absurd scene and contrived, since loud music and dancing is occurring, but the whole room gets quiet. She asks for a police officer and they arrive instantly.
Then it cuts to some wealthy villa where it turns out the young woman is a housemaid to some spoiled and dull woman. Her wealthy husband has recently died, and we later learn that the wealthy young woman may have poisoned him. She also has a lover played by Jorge Rivero.
Jorge Rivero was a Mexican actor who appeared in a few American movies (The Last Hard Men (1976), Rio Lobo (1970), Soldier Blue (1970)). He was a weightlifter and starred in a few "El Santo" movies and plenty of low budget films like Pistoleros de la frontera (1967), Manaos (1979) and Evil Eye (1975).
The housemaid, who seems delusional and extremely jealous of being in a lowly position, blackmails the wealthy young woman, telling her that she has a cup that has poison residue in it. If she doesn't get what she wants, she will turn it in to the police.
Hence, roles are reversed and the wealthy young woman is at her mercy. She becomes her housemaid, while spiraling further into depression. She is also taking poison, and writing a note that incriminates the housemaid.
Later, more deception and double meaning happen, as Jorge Rivero was involved all along with the young woman housemaid, but then he sells her under the bus when police arrive at the house.
The end shot is duplicitous Jorge Rivero and the wealthy young woman at some picnic, and the camera focuses on the cup, signifying that he might be poisoning her.
Although there are some interesting dynamics, the film is largely average. But nonetheless it is an amusing film from the era. It has a 1960's keyboard track that is overused, and a music club scene as well.
In Spanish with no subtitles.
See also:
End of the Party (1972)
La máxima felicidad (1982)
Verano ardiente (1971)
