I recently got an internship with beatcrave.com and my first assignment was to help decipher an audio interview with some of the guys from the new and upcoming Mexican film, Rudo Y Cursi (the film premiers in the May 8th). The AP Review published a review on the film late last night saying, "[The film] is enormously hackneyed in concept yet surprisingly enjoyable in execution."
After the interview I developed a huge interest, and will be watching the film this weekend. Mean while, read what Carlos Cuaron (film producer), and cast members Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, had to say about soccer, success, and banana plantations.
Do you guys remember the very first day you each met?
Diego: My father has told me that they came to visit us at the hospital [when I was born], but my father is like a professional liar. I don’t even know if he remembers when I was born. He has created a whole atmosphere, and in that atmosphere and in that fantasy; Gael came to visit me with his parents. [Our parents] were doing a theatrical play together called Tis Pity She’s A Whore by John Ford, and when Gael came to this world they were rehearsing and opening the play. I guess [at that time] my father and my mother where trying to make a baby, and it lasted for a long time, but I have a feeling that when I came to life when they were in performances. So they were really close to each other.
The story is about two young people gaining success, why did you choose football and singing as their claim to fame?
Are you as good at playing soccer as you are in the movie?
The movie talks about expecting success. Do you think that people expect success, but we are not prepared for failure?
How would you guys define success?
Carlos: In Mexico, three million and a half watched this big Mexican film. A National team game in Mexico is watched by maybe 80 million people. It is a big difference. That’s why, el Cursi , wants to be a singer because it is either football or singing, what gets you the fame and money and girls, and everything fast and easy. Well, not easy, but fast.
Gael: We went the wrong way. We should have been football players or singers.
Are you as good at playing soccer as you are in the movie?
Gael: As good as in the movie, no, because if not I would be a professional football player. I mean, I like playing a lot, but I’m not—I’m okay.
Who’s the best player?
Diego: There is no way to answer that unless there’s a ball.
Gael: The least worst is me.
Diego: That is what he thinks, but no.
Gael: I was the one casted as the football player; he was the goalkeeper.
Diego: There’s just one goalkeeper—I’m just saying I’m the taller one, and I needed to be the goalkeeper.
The movie talks about expecting success. Do you think that people expect success, but we are not prepared for failure?
Carlos: It depends what you think of success. If success is the material part: You are a good journalist, and become successful, and work for the New York Times, and become a millionaire, well the characters are losers. But if success is more about the human side, in this case, about learning that there is nothing as endearing as having a sibling, then you’re a winner. So it really depends on how you focus on success. To me, success is not to have three million people watching my movie in Mexico City, but the fact that I actually shot my movie. Then I was successful, the rest is the movie.
How would you guys define success?
Gael: Yeah, like that as being happy.
Diego: Being happy, being able to love and be loved. You know; be next to those you want to be next to. Being able to chose where you want to be and having the freedom of choosing whom you want to be, and with whom you want to be surrounded by. I think that is success.
Gael: That’s corny. But it’s true. These characters had all the elements to be happy, and it is interesting that everyone thinks ‘when they were successful,’ but it’s rather when they were famous, not successful. Fame doesn’t equal success. It’s amazing when you get known for the things you like doing. And recognized for the things you like to do. But the fact that you are doing them is what’s successful.
And, enjoy the trailer below:
source: beatcrave.com, ap review, picture; wordpress.com
