The movie is full of great ideas, the acting is OK (nothing of Pedestrian!), and reflects on modern issues but fast-forwarding them and imagining them in the near future, in which Mexico is, more than ever, a sort of colony for workers progressively deprived of its own wealth. It depicts a world of semi-slaves that live and work with their bodies connected to a networking machine, all impoverished and humanly thriving affection and human connection.
The special effects resent the lack of money, as they would have required a bigger budget to make them real and not that cheesy. Most of the time they are OK, although sometimes they are bad. However, the story being the focus of the movie, this somewhat does not affect the believability of the movie and of its thoughtful approach to the future.
The script has highs and lows, ends predictably, and it has and some story flaws, the result being uneven. However, the movie has a terrific mood and atmosphere, a lovely believable personal story, and great depth. The movie is believable most of the time, despite its flaws and lack of money, and a good start for director Alex Rivera. Somebody to watch out from now on.
The movie was released in Sundance in 2008 and won the Alfred P. Sloan Prize.
