Main picture, Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna;
below, Bernal; top right, director Carlos Cuarbn; bottom right, on the set of Rudo Y Cursi
reaction was, “I got to be Rudo.” I told them both I didn’t want to make Y Tu Mama Tambie’n 2 — that I wanted to create something original and to do that we needed to start from scratch and cast them against their natural types. And they are such good actors, so imaginative and active, they started to throw me ideas immediately. They really got it.’
Cuaron has also switched roles with his older brother by making his directing debut while Alfonso (whose own impressive directing credits include Y Tu Mamci También, the best Harry Potter, The Prisoner of Azkaban, and Children of Men) takes a creative backseat as producer.
‘We are lifetime creative partners,’ Cuarén says, ‘so this was very organic. And I’m not only talking about Alfonso, I’m also talking about my three producers at Cha Cha Cha [the new production company founded by the directors of the three films that launched the renaissance of Mexican cinema, Amores Perros' Alejandro Gonzalez Ifiarritu, The Devil Backbone’s Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron]. It was great to have their feedback, because all the notes were coming from very talented directors. They gave me complete creative freedom, and they were likewise very demanding, which is great for me, because I’m that way too. I was really privileged to have their trust. The main producer was Alfonso, however, and he gave me
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‘SIBLINGS HAVE POWER PLAY RELATIONSHIPS THAT SHIFT BACK AND FORTH'
the space to play the role of director.’
The finished film bears out what Cuarén says. It’s hard to imagine, for example, any producer other than his brother and his fellow filmmakers allowing a first-time director to make a film about football with almost no football scenes in it. ‘I wanted to make it very clear that the main theme was brotherhood,’ Cuaron says, ‘and I felt that the football was getting in the way of the
, drama. One day I saw Michael Haneke’s Funny ' Games, probably the most violent film I have
ever seen, but all the violence is off camera. I thought, “That’s what I have to do. I have to shoot football off camera.”’
And that’s just what Cuaron did. It’s very clear what is happening on the pitch by the reactions of the fans in the stands that we see and by what we hear the sports commentators saying about the games. But the only real footy scene is the climactic penalty play-off involving Rudo and Cursi. “Football is not easy to shoot and it’s not
. easy to dramatise, either,’ Cuaron says.
‘Baseball or American football have so many
RUDO Y CURSI
pauses during play you can use for dramatic effect, but football never pauses. The only moment it stops within the game is for the penalty kick. That is a moment that you can dramatise, because it becomes a duel, two guys facing each other with their destinies ahead of them. So that’s what I use in the film. Coming from Mexico, obviously I’m a football fan. I love the sport and I believe if you really want to see the game go to the stadium or stay at home and watch it on TV.’
Finally, it’s also difficult to imagine a less happily integrated filmmaker team producing such a multi-Iayered film. On one level it’s a popcorn movie, on another it’s a social portrait of contemporary Mexico and then there’s the theme of brotherhood. And while it’s very funny, Rudo y Cursi has a Jekyll and Hyde dark side. ‘Many people say it’s a comedy,’ Cuarén says, ‘but I think it’s a drama with a sense of humour. And sense of humour as defined by Dr Johnson in the 18th century and meaning an understanding of human nature. How you can reach that understanding is through painful laughter.
‘As Guillermo del Toro said of the film, “It’s a wolf in sheep’s skin.” He’s right.’
Rudo Y Cursi is on selected release from Fri 26 Jun
'I'RY &
TRY AGAIN
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Beto and Tato are not the only sporting brothers who have sought stardom elsewhere. Allan Valente follows a Scottish tale that involves Westlife, rugby, golf and, of course, Chris Evans
Thom (24) and Max (25) Evans can do it all. Scottish rugby fans can be thankful. however, that the sport has always been their greatest passion and that the English-born boys have a Scottish grandfather.
Max originally followed in his father
Brian's footsteps by becoming a professional golfer in Portugal after a back injury had limited his appearances in the Harlequins academy set-up. Thom, on the other hand. chose a very different path after leaving school. Not wanting to go straight into a professional career from his studies. he starred in a boy band that supported Westlife on their 2004 tour and released a single in the UK. Tato would be envious. That was the height of Twen2y 4 Se7en's success and. in a move that Tato would find unthinkable. Thom decided to ditch the music and return to rugby after representing England at U16, U18 and U21 level.
In 2006. winger Thom joined Glasgow Warriors from London Wasps. Max had been playing for Glasgow Hawks after coming back from Portugal but couldn't resist joining up with his little brother at the Warriors at outside centre.
In November 2008 Max won his first international cap ensuring that the Evans brothers became the 45th set of siblings to play for Scotland after Thom’s earlier call-up. By both appearing against France in the Six Nations earlier this year. they became only the 20th set of brothers to play for Scotland together.
And Chris Evans? Well, he's Brian Evans' first cousin. Your move. Tato.
25 Jun—9 Jul 2009 TI'II LIST 17