Herod's Law (La Ley de Herodes)
Our Price: $83.77
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.19 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alex Cox, Damián Alcázar, Delia Casanova, Juan Carlos Colombo, Pedro Armendáriz Jr.DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 120 minutes
Published: 2004-02-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-02-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Herod's Law (La Ley de Herodes)
Movie Review: Review for Herod's Law
Summary: 5 Stars
La Ley De Herodes
Review by Edgardo
The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema seems to be in resurgence. A Mexican Film maker Luis Estrada has produced a wicked satire on a political system (and political party as well). And he names the culprit. From 1927 up until the election of Vicente Fox in 2000, the PRI party reigned supreme on a throne of corruption over Mexico. The film is set in the 1930's or early 40's and has a delightful mambo score that uplifts this oftentimes grim comedy. La Ley de Herodes doesn't dwell much on the big dogs at the top, but more the politics of the small village level. Damian Alzar in the lead role of the Janitor turned small town mayor, or "Presidente Municipal" is perfect as the likeable dolt that the party bosses select to head the town of San Juan de Los Saguares, a mostly Indian village in the mountain deserts of Central Mexico. Where the only vegetation seems to be the tall Saguaro cactus. What the janitor turned mayor doesn't know is that the inhabitants of the village have killed the last several mayors that the party had sent to the town, the last one by decapitation. The Indians are incredibly poor, everyone is dirty and dusty, the village school lies in ruins, and most of the inhabitants don't even speak Spanish. There are just a few characters with any integrity what so ever. If an American director had made the film it would have been lambasted as racist and ethnically stereotypical. Still, even with being a being a Mexican Film it was suppressed and banned for years
The acting is first rate and it is hilarious...It is a guilty pleasure at times. The innocent patsy janitor grows into a first rate thieving PRI politician with the huge Mexican Criminal Code book in one hand and a pistol in the other. Dispensing justice, collecting fines and taxes, even stealing chickens from children. Taking out his "mordida" in trade at the local whorehouse, the movie pulls no punches. "La Ley De Herodes" along with Luis Estrada's latest film "El Infierno" (another dark satire that deals with the Mexican Drug War) "La Ley De Herodes" has not had a theatrical release in the United States. For whatever reasons. In the history of the curious relationship between Mexico and the United States we can add this odd observation, Other than the Mexican Government itself, no country lies and obfuscates more about Mexico than the American Government. So get this one on Dvd, while you can.
Summary of Herod's Law (La Ley de Herodes)
Mexico, 1949. The fable of a janitor turned mayor on a little town lost in the Mexican desert, who gradually realizes how far his new acquainted power and corruption can get him. After the corrupt former mayor is killed by the peasants, poor janitor Juan Vargas is appointed new mayor of a desert town in central Mexico. Although he tries to bring the motto of the ruling party to town (modernity, peace and progress) he realizes soon that there's nothing to do against corruption?except to become corrupt. Step by step, helped by his pistol, Juan Vargas becomes the law and the worst major in the town's history.Similar DVD Movies
The Burning Plain: and other Stories (Texas Pan-American Series)by Juan Rulfo
University of Texas Press; Published: 1971; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops:
Pochoby Jose Antonio Villarreal
Anchor; Published: 1970-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.52
Price in other shops:
Arrancame La VidaDISTRIMAX INC; Release date: 2010-12-21; DVD
Best price: $4.47
Price in other shops:
Matando CabosLions Gate; Release date: 2007-03-13; DVD
Best price: $4.33
Price in other shops:
Rudo Y CursiBERNAL,GAEL GARCIA; Release date: 2009-08-25; DVD
Best price: $5.84
Price in other shops:
The Crime of Padre AmaroSony; Release date: 2003-04-22; DVD
Best price: $11.45
Price in other shops:
Amores PerrosLions Gate; Release date: 2001-09-25; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Presunto CulpableDVD
A Wonderful WorldALEBRIJE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops:
InfiernoPublished: 2010; DVD
Best price: $5.12