Rabbit on the Moon (2004)

What was set up to be a provocative look into Mexico's staggering levels of political and police corruption falls completely flat from third-rate performances, scriptwriting, production, and direction. It is a shame that a project with such noble intent on producing an eye-opening view into being stuck in the midst of this bureaucratic nightmare that is Mexican justice still cannot provide any believability in a dull, flat pulse that mires every scene in boredom. With the largely amateur cast, c-movie technical standards, and monotonous camera-work, Rabbit on the Moon's potentially engaging plot line is rendered limp, even unwatchable, in the important social context it is served. Moderately successful in it's home country, I cannot imagine the movie appealing to anyone else besides the precise demographic it caters to simply due to budget constraints.

This is definitely a very good Mexican film, which is inspired in the unforgettable "Herods Law" and follow the same line; showing a little bit of how things work for Mexican politicians... but is it fiction? yes and no I would say, I think for someone who has not lived under such circumstances it is hard to believe that these things could happen... well, i think that there are even worse things going on sometimes with the corrupted politicians... but indeed, it is not a historical film and it tells a fictional story, it has also a dose of that very Mexican black humor which is hard to understand. Many non-mexicans have asked me how is it possible that mexicans laugh in some scenes of Herod's law and Conejo en la Luna, when what they are showing is our own misery... I say, well my friends, when crying seem to be useless, there are not much way out than laughter... but i know this may sound cynical.-spoilers coming!- One thing I really enjoy of this film is the end... no happy bullsh*t Hollywood end, but bitter reality, the English government giving the poor guy to the Mexican authorities... damn! but what else could happen? The guy that plays the chief of the PGR (something like the Mexican FBI) portrays very well the image that this police division have in Mexican society, can you imagine that in Mexico people are more afraid of cops than thieves, or murderers? although they are actually the same people, with some exceptions I presume. Just watch the film, it's a good one, and although it is fiction, believe when I tell that it is not so far away from reality.By the way... you may be wondering why the film is called "Rabbit on the Moon"... well, i heard it from the mouth of the director on the Berlinale... he explained of course because of the painting that the designer gives to the English girl... the relation is that we mexicans are told when we are children to look for the rabbit shape on the moon, that's different of the "man in the moon" version which i've heard about in Europe... When I look to the moon as a Mexican I see a rabbit, as well as when I see as the Mexican government I see filth... Europeans tend to see a Man on the moon, and what's their image about our government? a rabbit maybe?

I have also seen this film in Morelia film festival and it really surprised me. The story is told in the best way the thriller genre can give and reflects the real situation in Mexico today. It flows and really catches the audience. In Morelia during the festival people were took by surprise by this excellent film, most of the people I have discussed later said they were sweating with the tension of the film. By the way, Morelia Festival is only competitive for shorts and docus, this feature film was screened as a special screening-gala. I highly recommend this film that has the best Mexican cast possible and an excellent British cast too.

This history is common in the Mexican films, even so I was stuck to the seat all the moment, because I'm Mexican I feel what the protagonist feels in the film, for that reason I mention that this film is good depending on the appreciation of each spectator, if you never feel injustice at your country maybe don't understand this movie. This is not an art work, is not the best Mexican film but helps us to reveal the injustice that can be given in this country and that makes think us. This films was in competition at The Morelia International Film Festival but not win, also has pretty attended. I recommend this movie but I'm sure that no everybody will like it.