more films, latin american style

Here are a couple more synopses on films I've seen recently, which both happen to be from Latin America:

Manda Bala, by Jason Kohn (2007)
Compelling, I think is the best description for this documentary. It attempts to make sense of the chaos that is brasilian society, based on its may incarnations and reactions to crime. The two main forms of crime that are juxtaposed are money laundering by politicians, and kidnapping of these and other rich by the poor. Along for the ride are frog farmers, reconstructive plastic surgeons, bombastic anti-kidnapping division policemen, and paranoid "mauricinhos" (stuck up rich boys, in brasilian slang). Metaphors are thrown around, and even though they may be direct they are not overemphasized, instead taking shape through the scenes, cuts, and cinematography. Which, by the way, is quite stunning at times, even though none of these filmmakers had ever directed or produced anything (so kudos to the camerawoman, you rock!).
I think the most surprising emotion I came away with from this movie is not so much anger at conditions i already knew existed (the poor being abused by the rich, especially in the north of the country; the extremely poor trying to take something for themselves through any means, and leaving their morals in the backburner; or the rich ignoring the actual conditions of the poor and resorting to stereotypical portrayals of the poors as ignorants for justification), but more at a current thread through all of these characters: the brasilian ability to adapt, to innovate in order to succeed, the jeitinho that apparently permeates through most brasileiros. I wonder if I see too much into this theme in anything brasilian i experience, but it seems to make sense too often. Maybe it's a good thing I'm an architect. Time to put the jeitinho to work...

El Crimen Del Padre Amaro, by Carlos Carrera (2002)
1. Based on a seemingly anti-catholic novel written before 1800 about scandals involving priests, and loves forbidden by already outdated canonical laws.
2. Hot, good actors and actresses. ok, actor and actress... ...and she's really not that good, but Gael Garcia Bernal is. Though I think they went a bit too telenovela with the love story aspect. But maybe I'm just not wired for these things.
3. Peasants turning against heretics while priests fund hospitals through laundered drug lord money. That just about brings the story up to the late 20th and early 21st century.
4. leprosy, catholic witch doctors, abortion, blackmailing, and coronaries. And a lot of talk about Mexican food.
So the film wasn't necessarily great, but it had its highlights. Though I still can't figure out the general point of view of the writers/producers/directors, especially regarding religion and organized religion. B ut I will say, one of my favorite moments was the recitation of dirty Holy Book passages during sex. HOT! And definitely better overall as a movie than most American romances nowadays.