Tear This Heart Out
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''Tear This Heart Out'' () is a 2008 Mexican romantic
historical drama A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...
film directed by
Roberto Sneider Roberto Sneider is a Mexican writer, director and producer best known for his films ''Dos CrĂ­menes'' and '' Tear This Heart Out''. Early life and education Sneider is a graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana and of the directing program a ...
based on the novel of the same name by
Ángeles Mastretta Ángeles Mastretta (born October 9, 1949, in Puebla) is a post-boom Mexican author, journalist, actress, and film producer. She is well known for creating inspirational female characters and fictional pieces that reflect the social and politica ...
. It was Mexico's official submission for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, make the shortlist, but did not nominated.


Plot

The film takes place over the span of several years within the 1930s in Mexico, focusing on the life of Catalina "CatĂ­n" GuzmĂĄn (
Ana Claudia TalancĂłn Ana Claudia TalancĂłn (born Ana Claudia TalancĂłn Ortiz Tirado; 1 May 1980), is a Mexican actress, TV host, and philanthropist. She first started acting in her home town, CancĂșn, Quintana Roo. Early life and career TalancĂłn first started s ...
), a young girl born to a middle-class family in
Puebla Puebla, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is Puebla City. Part of east-centr ...
. She meets the cunning General Andrés Ascencio (
Daniel Giménez Cacho Daniel Giménez Cacho (born May 15, 1961) is a Spanish-born Mexican actor. He is known for portraying Tito the Coroner in '' Cronos'' (1993) and '' We Are What We Are'' (2010). Early life Daniel Giménez Cacho was born on May 15, 1961 in Mad ...
) while on an outing with her family and he becomes interested in her, paying her regular visits and lavishing her with gifts and praise. Smitten, she agrees to accompany him to
Tecolutla Tecolutla is a town and municipality located on the Tecolutla River on the eastern coast of the state of Veracruz in Mexico. It has the closest beaches to Mexico City, and much of its economy is based on tourism, as it is only a four- or five-hour ...
and loses her virginity to him. At that point she becomes curious about
sexual activity Human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual behaviour is the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts, ranging from activities done alone (e.g., masturbation) t ...
, including
masturbation Masturbation is a form of autoeroticism in which a person Sexual stimulation, sexually stimulates their own Sex organ, genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. Stimulation may involve the use of han ...
. Despite Andrés's light
misogyny Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against Woman, women or girls. It is a form of sexism that can keep women at a lower social status than Man, men, thus maintaining the social roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been wide ...
and casual derisions of her age and intelligence whenever offering her opinions on politics and other issues they discuss, she cares for him. Returning home and having no contact with each other for some days, he arrives at her home one day and proposes marriage to her; she excitedly accepts, despite her family's gentle misgivings about the union due to her age (she is 15). A hint of the true depth of AndrĂ©s's sexism is revealed while signing the marriage papers and at a celebratory breakfast for the couple—AndrĂ©s stresses his ownership of Catalina to her father and states that he is now in control of her behaviour as the man of the family. She mentions her family and friends' warnings that she will regret marrying a man they perceive to be an untrustworthy and sinister womaniser, a warning she fails to heed—and yet later acknowledges as a regret that came years later. The couple's movements between AndrĂ©s's city home in Puebla and
hacienda A ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or '' finca''), similar to a Roman '' latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards ...
mark idyllic times for Catalina; riding in the lands surrounding the hacienda, taking cooking classes, enjoying a rich lifestyle and having frequent sex is what Catalina knows. Despite showing concern over certain issues, such as her husband's plans to flood a valley for an electric dam (thus forcing the relocation of hundreds of impoverished farmers and villagers in the area) and his shady dealings with a neighbour, an American
expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
named Mike Heiss, his constant rebukes of her intrusions in his business as a "busybody woman" keep her from forcing the issue, though these stay clearly in her consciousness. His arrest due to accusations of murder give her a taste of the true volatility and uncertainty of being a political wife, despite his release a few days later. Shortly after she discovers that she is pregnant, yet her joy is dampened significantly when she sees him embracing another woman, her first glimpse of his many infidelities. He dismisses her angry chastisement of his actions and she briefly takes on a childhood friend as a lover to alleviate her loneliness, as AndrĂ©s spends less time with her during her pregnancy. Years pass and another baby is born to them. AndrĂ©s brings two children of his own—including a daughter who is 12, only seven years younger than Catalina—to live with them, explaining that they are the product of the union between him and his first wife, a saintly woman who died of
typhus Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposu ...
during the
Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...
(CatĂ­n comments that their actual mother was alive and well, living in
Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entit ...
). She believes him and gets along well with the children. At the same time Andrés announces his postulation as Governor of Puebla, a move enthusiastically supported by his family, who accompany him on extensive campaigning trips and witness several speeches to the poorer constituents of the state, promising progress and an improved state.


Cast

*
Ana Claudia TalancĂłn Ana Claudia TalancĂłn (born Ana Claudia TalancĂłn Ortiz Tirado; 1 May 1980), is a Mexican actress, TV host, and philanthropist. She first started acting in her home town, CancĂșn, Quintana Roo. Early life and career TalancĂłn first started s ...
- Catalina Guzmån, the young wife of Andrés Ascencio. *
Daniel Giménez Cacho Daniel Giménez Cacho (born May 15, 1961) is a Spanish-born Mexican actor. He is known for portraying Tito the Coroner in '' Cronos'' (1993) and '' We Are What We Are'' (2010). Early life Daniel Giménez Cacho was born on May 15, 1961 in Mad ...
- Andres Ascencio, a philandering, corrupt and populistic politician. *
José María de Tavira José María de Tavira Bianchi (born 27 September 1983) is a Mexican film and stage actor. The son of Mexican theatre director Luis de Tavira and Argentine actress Rosa María Bianchi, he began acting on stage with his parents; at age seven h ...
- Carlos Vives, the idealistic director of an orchestra. *
Mariana Peñalva Mariana Peñalva (February 20,1979,Mexico City, Mexico City) is a multidisciplinary artist , Founder or ''Magnificus Films'' and CEO of the agro-biotechnological start-up ''Fungus Sapiens''. Biography Actress Mariana Peñalva was born in Mexic ...
- Mercedes *
Irene Azuela Irene Azuela (born October 27, 1979) is a Mexican actress and producer. Career Irene Azuela began her career as an actress in 2000's in TV Azteca with three telenovelas: ''Todo por amor'', ''Amores querer con alevosĂ­a'' and ''La otra mitad d ...
- BĂĄrbara *
Delia Casanova Delia Casanova (born Delia Margarita Casanova Mendiola November 4, 1948, in Poza Rica, Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the ...
- Julia *
Julio Bracho Julio Bracho GavilĂĄn (17 July 1909 – 26 April 1978) was a Mexican film director and screenwriter. Bracho was born as ninth of eleven children of Julio Bracho y Zuloaga and his wife Luz PĂ©rez GavilĂĄn. His sister Guadalupe Bracho PĂ©rez ...
- Cienfuegos *
Danna Paola Danna Paola Rivera MunguĂ­a (born June 23, 1995), known mononymously as Danna and formerly as Danna Paola, is a Mexican singer and actress. She gained popularity as a child actress and singer, starring in dozens of television projects throughout ...
- Lilia Ascencio - Age 12 *
María Aura María Aura (born María Aura Boullosa on September 25, 1982) is a Mexican actress. Early life Aura was born on September 25, 1982, in Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. Filmography Films * 2001 ''Y tu mamå también ''Y tu mamå también'' ...
- Pepa


Background

According to the translator of the English edition,
Margaret Sayers Peden Margaret ("Petch") Sayers Peden (May 10, 1927 – July 5, 2020) was an American translator Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. The English languag ...
, the story was partly grounded on the life of General Maximino Avila Camacho, whose arrogance and ruthlessness was attested by his bloody violence toward his political enemies. He achieved much of his power from his highly political family: his brother,
Manuel Ávila Camacho Manuel Ávila Camacho (; 24 April 1897 – 13 October 1955) was a Mexican politician and military leader who served as the president of Mexico from 1940 to 1946. Despite participating in the Mexican Revolution and achieving a high rank, he cam ...
, was the
President of Mexico The president of Mexico (), officially the president of the United Mexican States (), is the head of state and head of government of Mexico. Under the Constitution of Mexico, the president heads the executive branch of the federal government and ...
. Maximino was one of the last of the unfettered
caudillos A ''caudillo'' ( , ; , from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise English translation for the term, though it is often used interchangeably with " mil ...
and his excesses as Governor of the State of
Puebla Puebla, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is Puebla City. Part of east-centr ...
help trigger political reforms to tame Caudillismo in early post-revolutionary Mexico.''Tear This Heart Out'' (English Edition), by Angeles Mastretta, Riverhead Books, 1997, The character Mike Heiss, who appears early in the film, was based on
William O. Jenkins William Oscar Jenkins (1878–1963) was an American businessman who made great wealth in Mexico. He was born May 18, 1878, in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was originally a mechanic who moved to Mexico. He served during the Mexican Revolution as a ...
.


Production

This movie, with a budget of over $6,000,000, was at the time of its production the most expensive ever made in Mexico. It was the official submission of Mexico to the Foreign Language category of the 2009 Academy Awards competition.


See also

*
List of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of submissions to the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best ...
*
List of Mexican submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film Mexico has submitted films for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film since 1957. The award is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion picture produced outsid ...


References


External links

* * {{Mexican submission for Academy Awards 2008 films 2008 romantic drama films Mexican historical drama films Mexican romantic drama films Films based on Mexican novels 2000s Mexican films 20th Century Fox films