Institute History
Description
Now that Like Water for Chocolate, one of the hits at 1993's Sundance Film Festival, has become the largest grossing foreign-language film in U.S. history, filmgoers should acknowledge the remarkable resurgence in the Mexican film industry. Some outstanding young filmmakers, among them Cronos director Guillermo del Taro, are finding theatrical release abroad. The sophisticated visual style and masterful play of genres used by first time director del Toro are a delightful surprise.
Loosely based on the vampire genre, the story begins In 1536, when an alchemist discovers the “chronos” device which can prolong life. At his death four hundred years later, he leaves the instructions in a diary Jesus Gris, an antiquities dealer, accidentally discovers the device in an old icon and becomes embroiled with a dying industrialist who sends his heavies to recover it. But Gris has been caught up In pursuing eternal existence.
Performances by Federico Luppi, Claudio Brook and others are first rate, but particularly engaging is Ron Perlman of TV fame as the thug nephew. At limes bloody and often deliciously humorous, the narrative moves adeptly, and the cinematography is exceptional. Del Toro's debut is cinematic storytelling at its best.
Friday Jan 21 9:30 pm
Park City Library Center
Thursday Jan 21 4:20 pm
Holiday Village Cinema II
Saturday Jan 29 6:00 pm
Tower Theatre. Salt Lake City
$7.00