This film had a lot of promise, centered as it was on a local tequila producer (Teresa Sánchez) in Jalisco, Mexico who faces difficulties keeping her business running because of financial and other issues. The landscapes and slice of life we see are often gorgeous, and I could have used even more footage of the agave harvesting process and tequila production. Sánchez dominates the film with her strong, enigmatic look, one that reflects pride in craftsmanship but growing fear for the future.

The story is less successful, however, not delving into the threat globalization represents with any depth, and completely squandering an opportunity to develop a subplot involving a trans hairdresser in town (Tatín Vera), or the character of the assistant she hires (Rafaela Fuentes). These appear to be present to show qualities the tequila producer lacks, namely a freedom from inhibition (the hairdresser) and modern pragmatism (the assistant), but that wasn't enough for me. The film is also painfully slow, often holding shots too long for my taste, and for reasons that escaped me.

Interestingly, instead of making the tequila producer a completely sympathetic person, we gradually see a lot of flaws. She treats her workers like family, but then again because of her debts, isn't paying them. She continues her father's innovations in terms of planting, but then again, seems blind to the plague that decimated a neighbor's agave crop. She seems like she should be a likeable underdog, but she comes across as both petty (keying a man's truck because he quit) as well as massively entitled. Some of this creates more depth to her character, but she felt unfinished to me, and never transforms.

I got the feeling that I was supposed to identify with her simmering anger as stemming from the immense difficulty of fighting large corporations and inevitable change in the world, things that would ordinarily resonate with me, but I have to say, a protagonist committing arson in an era where out of control wildfires have been devastating all over the globe was tough to watch. Regardless, where it goes from there just seemed like a petering out of sorts, making the ending unsatisfying.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Mexican director Juan Pablo González tells a story about an iron-willed businesswoman Maria Garcia who fights the impending collapse of her tequila factory when living in the bucolic hills of Mexico's Jalisco highlands. There is a lot of things to appreciate about this movie. Gonzalez way of telling the story of the Mexican landscape feels real and nature due to the great performances from the cast, interesting culture aspects at display, a metaphoric tone and style, and well designed conversations between the characters. Creating tequila itself isn't something easy to do so having to see someone who is desperate to try and keep the business afloat despite the situation surrounding them is hard. The main character Maria Garcia is interesting to watch as we join her on her journey of how she is living her life and trying her best to keep the business afloat.

The camerawork is really beautiful as it makes it feel like you are in Mexico, the sound design and costume sets feels colorful and bright, the music at display is alright even tho the music could be improved at certain moments, and the direction Gonzalez provides helps to make this movie feel nature and realistic. The slow burn pacing works for the most part but there were two scenes where different characters are interacting in the wild landscape felt like filler and didn't really have much to offer. And there is one really terrible shot where two individuals are talking to each far away as they are walking up the frame for a few good moments as it looked really ugly and unnecessary to be shown. Reminded me of one terrible scene in the movie "BlacKkKlansman".

Overall, it is a good slow burn drama and I look forward to see more art house Mexican cinema.

Rating: B+