Two teenage boys and a beautiful older woman
​embark on a road trip to Heaven’s Mouth.

DRAMA

Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón 

Written by Alfonso Cuarón and Carlos Cuarón

Starring Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Maribel Verdú,
Daniel Giménez Cacho

Oscar Nominations - Best Original Screenplay

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Austin Johnson

March 20, 2020

10/10

Alfonso Cuarón has multiple masterpieces and this is definitely one of them. He’s directed eight films altogether and Y Tu Mamá También was his fourth feature and made over 100 million dollars in Mexico at the box office. It is an iconic film that broke records in Mexico and caused controversy across the world due to its sexual content. Alfonso and Carlos Cuarón sued the Mexican Directorate of Radio, Television, and Cinema for giving the film an 18+ rating, which they believed to be illegal political censorship. 

Gael García Bernal plays Julio and Diego Luna plays Tenoch, two best friends living in Mexico City during the late 90’s. Both of them have girlfriends who are traveling to Europe for the summer, so they decide to take the opportunity to live as bachelors. They run into Tenoch’s cousin, Jano, and his wife Luisa who is played by Maribel Verdú at a wedding and are immediately entranced by her. They go as far as inviting her to a fake beach just to impress her, but she declines until personal circumstances change her mind. When she calls Tenoch to tell him that she wants to join after all, he and Julio scramble to plan a trip to a beach that doesn’t exist.

Bernal, Luna, and Verdú give some of the best performances I’ve seen in a good while, creating a love triangle that causes all kinds of drama and formative moments. I don’t know if  Cuarón is better at writing or directing, but Y Tu Mamá También is a combination of both talents on full display. Emmanuel Lubezki is one of the best modern cinematographers in the world and a consistent collaborator of  the Cuaróns. His work in this is undeniably authentic and mesmerizing. Y Tu Mamá También is an absolute gem that will rock your world even when the credits start rolling.