neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Herod's Law
	Luis Estrada Damián Alcázar, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Leticia Huijara, Delia Casanova, Juan Carlos Colombo, Alex Cox, Guillermo Gil, Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Salvador Sánchez, Isela Vega, Eduardo López Rojas 1999		"Herod's Law," a take-no-prisoners political satire from director/co-writer Luis Estrada, is another impressive example of the new wave in Mexican cinema, and so provocative that it was almost banned in its home country. Junkyard watchman Juan Vargas (Damián Alcázar) is a slothful but devoted member of Mexico's ruling party in 1949. For reasons of expedience, party leaders enlist him as the mayor of a tiny desert town. It's not a plum position. A mob of local citizens killed the previous mayor, due to his dubious conduct. Arriving in the desolate, destitute village, Juan and his desirous wife (Leticia Huijara) learn that the climate is still inhospitable for certain civic leaders, such as outsiders who are easily intimidated by the demands of the constituency or manipulated by the community's movers and shakers. The town priest (Guillermo Gil), madam (Isela Vega) and doctor, and a visiting "gringo" engineer (Alex Cox, director of "Repo Man"), each have their own agenda, wherein do-gooder Juan is relegated to pawn status. But the corrupting effects of power can overwhelm the best-intentioned soul. This is one farcical, rousing, relevant period piece. With Pedro Armendáriz Jr. and Delia Casanova.