Mexican cinema has the appearance of being bad, vulgar or very simple, but we have seen projects that have really helped to change that thinking and perspective on the film industry in Mexico. However, when we believe that the films made in our country can really reach the transcendental, feature films such as El Poderoso Victoria reach movie theaters, which shows us that with money and sponsorships you can create something beautiful, but not necessarily good or that worth it.
On the eve of the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, El Poderoso Victoria is about to hit theaters across the country, a fantasy story about trains, a young train driver and a handful of movie and television clichés in Mexico that have been repeated over and over again. From director Raúl Ramón, the feature film tells us the story of the town of La Esperanza, where after the railway route that connects the town with the capital was cancelled, its inhabitants decide to build a train with their own hands in order to save their home. and thus prevent it from disappearing from the map, with one or another obstacle in the way sponsored by the well-known corruption of the Mexican government.
Director: Raúl Ramón
Writer: Raúl Ramón
Stars: Damián Alcázar, Gerardo Oñate, Roberto Sosa
The story is directed by Durán (Gerardo Oñate), a young driver who will have to choose between crossing the northern border and starting to live the American dream or helping a group of residents without many opportunities who resist in their native place and that is basically all. The film is the town's mission to build a train with the few resources at their disposal, while Durán decides to give up the chance of a lifetime for him for a local romance and the fantasy of having up to 15 children.
It is curious because at first Durán refers to his town as a land of losers, making a little reference to the endless history of the Mexican people and even so the young driver ends up becoming what he criticized. Not a loser as such, but in another prisoner from a place that he had nothing to offer and from a relationship that did not seek growth but rather more consolidation of its roots. In the end, El Poderoso Victoria shows us a telenovela-esque story where the protagonist's plot is not far from the shows that Televisa has presented on different occasions. Gerardo Oñate driver, is not very different from Gabriel Soto trailer, for example, it is a story that is not very easy to buy or believe.
However, the feature film undoubtedly manages to attract attention due to the cast that accompanies the story; Characters from the film industry such as Damián Alcázar, JoaquÃn Cosio, Luis Felipe Tovar, Lalo España and Édgar Vivar fulfill their role firmly, with performances that, beyond good or bad, are totally classic. But even so, and with Mexican stars of this caliber, a very poor script and a direction that seems to have been confusing for the actors, it does not allow them to exploit their talent 100%, because it seems that the characters were too small for the actors. artists.
Although of course not everything is tragedy and misfortune for El Mighty Victoria because he managed to exploit his budget visually, since the period film faithfully portrays a provincial town from the thirties. The locations, the scenery and the costumes are perfectly combined to recreate an atmosphere of a western type movie but in Mexican lands. In addition, the photography and sharpness that the image presents end up making this project more of a visual spectacle than a narrative or acting one, although yes, the special effects or, as they say, the CGI, is enough to cry.