#    a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h    i    j    k    l    m    n    o    p    q    r    s    t    u    v    w    x    y    z see:y Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. Alfonso Cuaron, 2001. 105min. A French New Wave film set in Latin America, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN plays as a road movie, but manages to incorporate much more into its coming of age tale. Weaving social commentary with respect to Mexico's past into its story via voice-over narration, the film also chooses as one of its characters a member of Mexico's privledged class, one I have never before seen caught on film. The less foreknowledge of the film, the better its unspooling, which might also cause one to wish to vew it a second time to see how the eventual resolutions motivate the characters earlier on. And as such, I'll refrain from speaking of its other themes. A cop out, I know. But it's other themes deal with life and death and sex and, yes, love, something the boys seem not yet ready or willing to understand. skip:y YI YI. Edward Yang, 2000. 173min. A rumination on life and its many complexities, YI YI weaves its story around a family and the many relationships entwined within. Unfortunately, with so many stories and ideas packed into the frame, the film tends to lose focus, and the conclusion doesn't quite support the extended running time, even as it appears slightly too pat. Individually, certain sections could have been built out into beautiful films of their own. As it stands, it is a monolith. A 1000 page novel where a series of novellas would have perhaps worked to better effect. While life may be the sprawling mess that the film attempts to expose in its controlled examination of the family and the lives around it, perhaps art is about distilling it into its essence and recasting it. As one charater relates, "Movies are like life. That's why we like them." Perhaps this one comes a little too close. 01.31.01 #    a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h    i    j    k    l    m    n    o    p    q    r    s    t    u    v    w    x    y    z