Product Description

An exploration of homophobia and machismo in Latin America through the bittersweet story of La Manuela, a transvestite who lives in a brothel run by his daughter. Wearing his favorite red flamenco dress, La Manuela steps in to defend his daughter's honor when she is threatened by a macho truck driver...

The DVD features include: a souvenir booklet; interactive menus; scene access; filmographies; awards; production notes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146024 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-05-29
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Elliot Stein, Village Voice
"One of Ripstein's most striking films."

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
"Impressive and imaginative... La Cage aux Folles played for tragedy."

About the Director
Of the filmmakers currently working in Mexico, Arturo Ripstein is among the very few whose works have international impact. In more than 30 years of filmmaking, he has created as consistently satisfying a body of work as can be found in the Spanish language. Each of his films is eagerly awaited by the press, the critics and the public alike. His name attached to a project lends credibility, helps it get financed, attract major stars and literary collaborators. Over the years, his films have won numerous awards at the major international films festivals: Cannes; Venice; Berlin.

Ripstein grew up in the Mexican film industry; his father is film producer Alfredo Ripstein, Jr. In the early '60s he worked as an assistant to Luis Bunuel on THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL. Writing in Film Comment, director Alex Cox observed: "If there is any filmmaker in the world who can be said to have inherited Bunuel's mantle, Ripstein is a prime candidate... for my money, Ripstein is one of the best and most interesting directors working today."

At the age of 21, Ripstein directed his first film, TIEMPO DE MORIR (A Time to Die), a western written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes. Among his most well-known films are: EL CASTILLO DE LA PUREZA (Castle of Purity), a surrealist domestic drama in which a father literally keeps his family under lock and key so that the world outside won't corrupt them; EL SANTO OFICIO (The Holy Office), the story of one family's experience during the Inquisition in Mexico; EL LUGAR SIN LIMITES (Place Without Limits), the tragic story of a transvestite who lives in a brothel run by his daughter, who he wants to protect; CADENA PERPETUA (In For Life), a film noir look at police brutality.

Since the mid-80s, Ripstein has collaborated on a number of films with his partner, screenwriter Paz Alicia Garciadiego: EL IMPERIO DE LA FORTUNA (The Realm of Fortune), based on Juan Rulfo's classic tale of fate, fortune, and tragedy; MENTIRAS PIADOSAS (White Lies), a story of working-class struggles and hopes, nightmares and dreams; LA MUJER DEL PUERTO (Woman of the Port), based on a short story by Guy de Maupassant about a sailor who falls in love with a prostitute; PRINCIPIO Y FIN (The Beginning and the End), based on the novel by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz about the financial and moral downfall of a family upon the death of its patriarch; LA REINA DE LA NOCHE (Queen of the Night), based on the tortured life of cabaret singer Lucha Reyes; PROFUNDO CARMESI (Deep Crimson), Ripstein's version of the macabre tale of "The Honeymoon Killers"; a chilling story of cinematic apocalypse, EL EVANGELIO DE LAS MARAVILLAS (Divine); and the bittersweet tale of a retired revolutionary antihero, EL CORONEL NO TIENE QUIEN LE ESCRIBA (No One Writes to the Colonel), based on a story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Ripstein has collaborated with, or based films on works by, many of Latin America's leading literary talents, among them Carlos Fuentes, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Manuel Puig, Julio Alejandro, Jose Emilio Pacheco, Vicente Lenero, Silvina Ocampo, Jose Donoso, and Juan Rulfo.

Arturo Ripstein lives in Mexico City, Mexico.

Customer Reviews

UNA OBRA MAESTRA DEL CINE MEXICANO
"El Lugar Sin Límites" es una adaptación de la novela homónima de José Donoso. La historia nos sitúa en un pequeño pueblo de la provincia mexicana. La unica diversión que sus habitantes conocen es el burdel local en donde vive la Manuela (Roberto Covo), un travesti. La Manuela tiene una hija, la Japonesita (Ana Martin) y su madre es la Japonesa (Lucha Villa). Gonzalo Vega interpreta a un jornalero mediocre, pero muy macho, que asedia a la Japonesita. Tiempo atrás el tubo un conflicto con la Manuela y viene para "darle en la madre". Partiendo de una cita de "Fausto", que proviene del libro; Ripstein desenreda una historia llena de metáforas biblicas en donde los temas centrales son el infierno y la culpa. El filme constituye una desmitificación total del machismo mexicano que termina demostrando sus tendencias homosexuales. La producción es magnífica, cuenta con una ambientación excepcional y una fotografía que revela los detalles y caracteres de la miseria rural.

'FLAMING FLAMENCO FRACAS'
ROBERTO COBO [a striking resemblance to the late Jean Louis Barrault] brings much sympathy to this role of Transvestite/prostitute Manuel/Manuela, owner of one of those seedy little brothels housed in a 'touch of evil' town, somewhere south of the border....

His daughter, Ana Martin [no heart of gold there, an earthy performance], fathered during a moment of confusion, has followed in her father's steps [the prostitute bit], and is now terrorised by the return of Pancho, a macho truck driver [a lost Steinbeck character, they are all quite close to their American cousins ["East of Eden" country]give or take a few changes]. During the course of events, we learn that the village is about to be sold by the ruthless landlord [owner?], Manuel's daughter still has "something" to resolve with Pancho, which may be dangerous, SO Manuel/Manuela intervenes, dons the red dress, previously ripped by the same Pancho, and somewhat reluctantly decides to follow this fandango of fate ........

Gonzalo Vega is perhaps too attractive as Pancho, but he does bring great sensitivity and sympathy to this confused character, AND HE does cry! There is room for a sequel, and there should be - male mistique being what it is.....

Arturo Ripstein's vision is straight-forward, no frills, simple and effective. Grand use of color, the red truck, red flamenco dress, etc. Good DVD transfer, sub-titles are clear, the sound, not surround though, is good - especially Ripstein's choice of scratchy music. Great opening sequence with the red truck blazing appropriate music - an Orpheus returning to a somewhat soiled Euridice in the Underworld.

No, it's not "La Cage Aux Folles" or "Victor/Victoria" it's closer to Fellini's early gritty work, not Genet [we are spared that degree of realism, this version is really quite PG] it's closer to "Torch Song Trilogy".

Other companion pieces of despair? Try Almodovar's "Law of Desire".

Ripstein's best movie EVER! (IMHO)
This was the first movie by Ripstein I ever saw and although it's obviously low-budget and looks dank and dull, I loved the way the story and acting work together to examine the destructive effects of paternalistic power in a small community. The main actors - 'Manuela' and 'Pancho' - work miracles. The actor who played Manuela particularly is incredible at portraying a lack-lustre, down-at-heel transvestite/brothel madam in such a way as you identify with her and see her particular beauty clearly. I don't know why he didn't work in more movies, but... that's life! The inevitable violence of the end leaves you gutted and, more incredibly, understanding what the forces were that led each person to act as they do; you see the true tragedy as not down to individual blame, but social forces working through people, locking them into insane courses of action. Watch this, if you can get it...