a film of surprising depth and frankness and this be no mexican soap opera . the film be tell in chapter and one about each major character . they all come from the same neighborhood and their life intertwine . for the most part the story wind up in disappointment and with few moment of sweetness and and some real tragedy . it not quite a slice of life and but compare very favorably to the similar american film short cut by robert altman . without go into too much detail and it follow a late mid life crisis of a bar owner name rutilio who finally allow his inner yearning to surface and almost at the cost of his family . the second chapter follow alma ( salma hayek and the only recognizable name from the cast ) a a lovely ghetto girl who be tear by the absence of her fiance who be in america and the desire and need and temptation of be young and lovely and and inexperienced . the third chapter be about susanna and the local landlord and middle age and homely and and never be love and the trial she put herself through after a fateful tarot card read predict the imminent appearance of a man in her life . the last chapter and the return and tie all the string together a best they can be and because this be life and the string simply do not tie together that well . i do not expect a mexican film of this frankness not just sex and but character have real conversation and smoke grass and get mixed up in an underworld with a sheen of decency and the expected rotten core all rotate around the table in the neighborhood bar where the men play domino . these comment may not have convince you to see this movie and but if you do see and like short cut then i highly recommend this film . and if short cut be gobbledegook to you then i recommend both . nine out of ten .