sl-pierce The Mexican film "Temporada de patos", or "Duck Season," written and directed by Fernando Eimbcke struck me as strange, but humorous, from the very beginning. The plot itself was oddly creative, taking the mundane lives of four people on an ordinary Sunday and transforming them into a quirky coming-of-age story that speaks measures, again in a very peculiar manner. I was intrigued as to why the movie was produced in black and white, even though it is a modern film, and I still do not really understand what the director or producer's intent was behind that depiction. While I myself did not particularly enjoy the film, I can appreciate its intent to portray complicated themes through eccentric and comical means.

DhariaLezin I've seen lots of Mexican films, but after living in the biggest and most populated city of the world, even though many films are great, they don't show exactly the reality of living here. "Y tu mamá también" is a good example of this: even though the film is great, the reality of the country and its people is entirely different. So after listening and reading very good comments of Temporada de Patos (Duck season), I finally had the chance to see it. Even though I am not a boy or I was not a girl that would prepare marijuana brownies when I was a teenager, the film entirely reminded me my life about ten years ago. Helped by the photography (which is awesome)it shows with just the necessary dialogs the feelings, doubts and thoughts of Mexican puberty. And also there is a pizza guy that at the end becomes one more of the "apartment Sunday junky gang" that for many people would not be entirely credible, but for me it is, because when you are a medium class Mexican teenager, and you are able to save the few money you would spend on a pizza you will do it. The way they handle doubts as sexuality, drugs, relationship with the parents, friendship, junk food and things like that is excellent. The flashbacks are great, the way they handle the "trip" with marijuana is also excellent, the dialogs and the music too. I would absolutely recommend anyone to see it because it is viewable for all the ages, and it will remind our early teenager days to any adult who watches it.

nycritic Imagine the most unremarkable series of events taking place any given day of your life. Then imagine that within those trivial moments in which you life your life, something new is added -- the sneaky, near-invisible element of human baggage and quiet awakenings -- and you have yourself the story that unfolds in TEMPORADA DE PATOS (DUCK SEASON).A mother leaves her fourteen-year old son Flama (Daniel Miranda) alone in the tenement apartment where she lives in Mexico City to go visit her sister. He's with his best buddy Moko (Diego Catano), and they both pass time playing violent video games. A neighbor, an older girl named Rita (Danny Perea) pops in to use the oven because hers isn't working and she's baking a cake. Bored and hungry, the boys order pizza.Its late arrival (which the delivery man, Ulises (Enrique Arreola), vehemently denies) is the fulcrum of the events that build up the story's thin plot. The boys feel they shouldn't have to pay, to which Ulises decides he won't leave without his payment. First he sits rather menacingly at the door, but the boys decide maybe it's best to play a video game with Ulises. If they win, their pizza is free; if they lose, they must pay.Meanwhile, Rita continues making her cake, making little appearances here and there. She seems lonely and tries to insinuate herself into the threesome... and when the power goes out, her asking Moko for help in finishing making her cake hints that she's there for a little more than just borrowing their kitchen for the afternoon.The boys lose to Ulises. Flama reluctantly pays up, insulting Ulises with an ugly smooch. Ulises' frustration finally makes its appearance as he hits (and cuts) Flama, but to make up for his horrible yet brief moment of violence makes him retreat his steps, and his tragic story unfolds...Watching TEMPORADA DE PATOS made me feel of those short, unassuming stories I used to read in high school that in their brevity managed to say a whole lot more than a grandiose novel. The way the foursome's inner motives play against and with each other comes in the most unexpected ways, and Fernando Eimbecke's approach is that of an almost improvised movie that unfolds its treasures in minute yet poignant ways. I thought it was impressive, because the initial appearance of Ulises seems to warrant a creepiness that I did not open myself to; however, the longer he stayed in the story, the deeper it became. This becomes true due to the fact that while all of them acknowledge the presence of the most invisible picture in the living room -- the type of picture prevalent in many Hispanic homes, depicting pastoral scenes -- Ulises is the one who really comes to realize its significance.TEMPORADA DE PATOS is a rarity that people tired with the norm should pay attention to. It's funny, but not in the way one would expect (and check that last scene after the end credits!). It's sad, because of the hinted isolation in which all of the characters are caught in. It's hopeful and uplifting, and I loved it for its honesty.

JimmyZappa We've all seen movies that just portray Mexico as one of the poorest countries in the world and have its people usually situated like "Speedy Gonzalez"-like carefree people with very short tempers.While it is somewhat true for some regions (or the most part, it all depends), that's not the representation of Mexico as a whole. This movie is closer to what me, my friends, and (some of my) relatives live like: normal people who just like to kick back, play videogames, have a coke, and just have fun with everyday life. They just happen to live in Mexico (and I just happen to live in America in my part because of my grandparents). That's really all it is.Of course, like any art film, the movie goes a little beyond your typical Sunday afternoon. The two main kids, Flama and Mako, are just trying to spend the entire day killing time and they are eventually accompanied by Rita (Flama's next door neighbor who just needed to borrow the kitchen) and Ulises (A pizza delivery guy, with a heart of gold, who stays with the gang because of pay disputes over a pizza Flama and Mako ordered in the beginning).But, unlike your REAL typical Sunday, everything just gets chaotic within that 9 hour time-span. So inevitably, the characters eventually flesh out their true colors, often get into discussions about how animals act, why they are in the mess they are in, and how their fast friendship eventually became something worth more than just borrowing a kitchen to make a cake or pay disputes over a pizza.The name "Duck Season" will become pretty apparent in the middle and towards the end, I thought it was truly symbolic and clever the way they used the theme. Some of the jokes are funny (some even funnier if you listen to the slang they pull at each other), some of the situations can get really deep to a point where you know the character's true desires, and in the end...you just can't help but sit back and wish for more!I'll end this saying the Black and White style fits the film perfectly (especially in a few scenes, which would've been hellish to retake without the B&W filter) but the ending...well, like I said, it left me wanting for a little more. Many of the camera angles are well done, but in my opinion, they should've laid off the fade in/fade out a little bit (I mean, my poor eyes...). And I have to hand it to them...i'm glad they actually depicted videogames in a more REALISTIC fashion; its not just two kids smashing their poor controllers to hell in a ONE player game *cough*charliesangles*cough*, you've got Halo and what I *think* is FIFA (correct me if i'm wrong). I hope more directors will pick up the trend soon if they want to make their films seem a little more realistic when they include videogames.Overall, a good film and a must see!