Down the Rabbit Hole

The movie does not pretend to be big cinema, a masterpiece of acting... But it is taking you on a journey into a tragic story through the perspective of a 10 year old and I felt this boy until the last minute. To use the setup of a drug lords dark world without showing nearly anything of its darkness and the clever child growing up in his own bubble is brilliant. The type humour was a perfect match with me but thats not necessarily valid for everybody. But still... I think I wasn t entertained that much and have not left my couch with a mixture of sadness and a smile for quite some time. Absolutely my type of thing.

Exploring a film like "Down the Rabbit Hole" leads us to seek that linguistic and visual magic that can captivate the soul. However, in this journey, I found myself in a limbo of ambiguity, oscillating between admiration for some courageous moments and a persistent feeling of potential not fully exploited. The film's story has deep roots in childhood and the discovery of language and the world. Our protagonist, Tochtli, embodies a pilgrimage through words, but this journey is overshadowed by an excessive density of dark tones that obscure the light of adventure. There is a moment of brilliance in the film, and it resides in the extraordinary performance of Miguel Valverde Uribe in the role of Tochtli. His performance exudes childlike genius, but sometimes seems stifled by the shadows of narration. However, these shadows are too dense. Although the film attempts to tackle profound themes, its narrative stumbles between the pages of the book, unable to fully emerge into its own light. Father-son relationships, for example, appear as superficial hints on a canvas that would require greater depth and nuance. The direction oscillates between moments of pure visual poetry and others of unsettling dissonance. Here too, there is a potential not entirely expressed, as if the director had held back from fully unleashing his vision. Not all is lost. Glimmers of brilliance emerge, like hidden gems in the mud. The attention to detail is remarkable, and each frame feels like a moving painting. However, these moments of true essence are obscured by an uncertain narrative and a tone that is too dark. "Down the Rabbit Hole" is a promise partially kept. Despite its visual beauty and the enchanting performance of the protagonist, the uncertain narrative and the dark tone may disappoint some viewers. However, for those willing to take a leap into the unknown, it could still prove to be an intriguing journey into the complexity of language and life itself.

There are a lot of very funny things in this unusual story though I am sure some of the humor is lost in translation., for instance, the main character, the ten year old son of a Mexican drug lord, is continually referred to as "Cabroncito" which the according to the subtitles means " bonehead" but which my translator app says means something different. Regardless, the relationship between the father and son is quite touching, the former going so far as to take his son to Africa in search of a pigmy hippopatamos for the young boy's personal zoo, but, despite such grandiose indulgence, the little boy leads a rather lonely life in his papa's compound, cut off from other children his age and connected to the outside world only through his tutor, a failed writer, who Papa boasts is "the highest paid teacher in Mexico".. All in all "Down the Rabbit Hole" is an entertaining film, a story probably unlike anything you have previously seen.

Even though the movie moves along slowly, it captures the relationship between father and son. Many of the lines are funny to us Mexicans, I can understand if someone doesn't get the one liners of you don't understand the culture. The music soundtrack is second to none, if you grew up in a Mexican family in the early 80's to present. You can hear Ramon Ayala and even some Chalino playing in the background. My wife actually liked it and she doesn't really like anything to do with cartel subject lines. I usually rate around a 7 if i enjoyed it, but at this time I'll rated it an 8 just because I will recommend this film to my friends and family.

"Down the Rabbit Hole" captivates with its innovative adaptation of the original novel. The film excels in storytelling and character development, but it's the ending that truly stands out. While the novel lets Yolcott escape unpunished, the film takes a refreshing turn by ensuring he faces the consequences of his actions. This change adds a satisfying layer of justice and moral clarity, making the movie a thought-provoking and engaging experience. It's worth noting that the film relies heavily on dialogue, which may not appeal to fans of action-packed movies. However, for those who appreciate rich, character-driven narratives, "Down the Rabbit Hole" offers a deeply rewarding journey.

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