Rudo y Cursi
Encyclopedia
Rudo y Cursi is a 2008 Mexican film starring Diego Luna
, Gael García Bernal
and Guillermo Francella
. It is directed by Carlos Cuarón
(Alfonso Cuarón
's brother) and produced by Cha Cha Cha Films
(production company created by Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro
and Alejandro González Iñárritu
). It is Carlos Cuarón's first full-length movie — previously he had directed only short films.
The movie is a drama/comedy about two brothers from a rural lower class Mexican family with roots in a little "banana town" on the Pacific coast of Mexico who compete in their professional soccer careers. They acquire (involuntarily) the nicknames "Rudo" ("rude", "uncouth" or "tough") and "Cursi" ("tacky" or "corny"). The film is also a satire
on life and values in contemporary Mexico's "narco-society".
Rudo y Cursi is the sixth top-grossing Mexican film of all time.
of Jalisco
, Mexico
, young men dream of escaping the drudgery of the banana plantations. Two of them, a pair of half-brothers, play in local soccer matches. Tato (Gael Garcia) is the star striker and Beto (Diego Luna) is the eccentric goalkeeper. During one match they are spotted by a talent scout (Guillermo Francella) and he offers one of them the opportunity to go to Mexico City with him and try out for one of the country's big teams. As the scout's roster is already full, he says he can only take one of the brothers and they decide to settle it on a penalty shot. Tato scores the penalty against his brother therefore earning the right to head to the capital.
After a slow start Tato finally makes it big and earns the nickname 'Cursi' ("Tacky"). His brother soon follows and joins a rival team where he is given the nickname 'Rudo' ("Rude"). Cursi becomes a national hero and starts dating Maya Vega (Jessica Mas), a famous model, whilst his brother struggles with life in the city and misses his family back home.
Things start to go worse for the brothers. Tato loses both his woman and his goal scoring touch while his brother gets lured into a world of cocaine and gambling. It becomes clear that the drug cartels own everything. Their sister back home marries the local drug lord, Don Casimiro, whose far-reaching tentacles eventually affect the whole family. Everything finally depends upon one match as the two brothers come face to face. Cursi is threatened with demotion to Division 2 if he fails to score in this match; Rudo must throw the match in order to pay off his gambling debts or he will be killed. In the last minute Rudo saves a penalty from Tato and the match finishes goalless. Cursi quits football and returns home, and Rudo is shot, losing a leg and ending his career. They both end up back in Tlachtlán with their family where the simpler lifestyle seems to better suit them.
. He initially planned for only one character, but later decided to include a brother.
Principal photography began in summer 2007 in Cihuatlán
, Mexico
. The banana plantation where the brothers work in the film is actually owned by the Cuarón family. For his role Bernal wore blonde extensions to lengthen his hair while Luna dyed his hair black and grew a mustache to play the older brother. Additional filming took place in México City
and Toluca
.
The character of Don Casimiro is based loosely on drug lord
Miguel Caro Quintero
.
and was screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
and the Tribeca Film Festival
. It was released generally, on a limited basis, on May 8, 2009. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 25, 2009.
Diego Luna
Diego Luna is a Mexican actor known for his childhood telenovela work, a starring role in the film Y tu mamá también, and supporting roles in American films. He is also known for his roles in Rudo y Cursi and Milk. Luna also had minor roles in Frida and Before Night Falls...
, Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal is a Mexican film actor and director.-Early life:García Bernal was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the son of Patricia Bernal, an actress and former model, and José Ángel García, an actor and director. His stepfather is Sergio Yazbek, whom his mother married when García Bernal was...
and Guillermo Francella
Guillermo Francella
Guillermo Francella is an Argentine actor and comedian. Apart from being a television performer, he also has had a long theatrical and film career.-Life and work:...
. It is directed by Carlos Cuarón
Carlos Cuarón
Carlos José Cuarón Orozco is a Mexican screenwriter, film producer and film director. He is the brother of Alfonso Cuarón.- Biography :Carlos Cuarón was born in Mexico City and studied English literature at UNAM...
(Alfonso Cuarón
Alfonso Cuarón
Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is a Mexican film director, screenwriter and film producer, best known for his films Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Y tu mamá también, and A Little Princess.- Early life :...
's brother) and produced by Cha Cha Cha Films
Cha Cha Cha Films
Cha Cha Cha Films is a film production company started by three of Mexico’s most successful and acclaimed directors: Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Toro...
(production company created by Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican director, producer, screenwriter, novelist and designer. He is mostly known for his acclaimed films, Blade II, Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy film franchise. He is a frequent collaborator with Ron Perlman, Federico Luppi and Doug Jones...
and Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu is a Mexican film director.González Iñárritu is the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and by the DGA of America for Best Director. He is also the first and only Mexican born director to have won the Prix de la mise en scene...
). It is Carlos Cuarón's first full-length movie — previously he had directed only short films.
The movie is a drama/comedy about two brothers from a rural lower class Mexican family with roots in a little "banana town" on the Pacific coast of Mexico who compete in their professional soccer careers. They acquire (involuntarily) the nicknames "Rudo" ("rude", "uncouth" or "tough") and "Cursi" ("tacky" or "corny"). The film is also a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
on life and values in contemporary Mexico's "narco-society".
Rudo y Cursi is the sixth top-grossing Mexican film of all time.
Plot summary
In the fictional farming village of Tlachtlán, in the Cihuatlán ValleyCihuatlán
Cihuatlán is a coastal municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Its main city is also named Cihuatlán. It existed when the Spanish first seized Mexico from the Aztecs and was fittingly allowed to retain its name, which in the nahuat language means place of women.-Etymology:The word Cihuatlán...
of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, young men dream of escaping the drudgery of the banana plantations. Two of them, a pair of half-brothers, play in local soccer matches. Tato (Gael Garcia) is the star striker and Beto (Diego Luna) is the eccentric goalkeeper. During one match they are spotted by a talent scout (Guillermo Francella) and he offers one of them the opportunity to go to Mexico City with him and try out for one of the country's big teams. As the scout's roster is already full, he says he can only take one of the brothers and they decide to settle it on a penalty shot. Tato scores the penalty against his brother therefore earning the right to head to the capital.
After a slow start Tato finally makes it big and earns the nickname 'Cursi' ("Tacky"). His brother soon follows and joins a rival team where he is given the nickname 'Rudo' ("Rude"). Cursi becomes a national hero and starts dating Maya Vega (Jessica Mas), a famous model, whilst his brother struggles with life in the city and misses his family back home.
Things start to go worse for the brothers. Tato loses both his woman and his goal scoring touch while his brother gets lured into a world of cocaine and gambling. It becomes clear that the drug cartels own everything. Their sister back home marries the local drug lord, Don Casimiro, whose far-reaching tentacles eventually affect the whole family. Everything finally depends upon one match as the two brothers come face to face. Cursi is threatened with demotion to Division 2 if he fails to score in this match; Rudo must throw the match in order to pay off his gambling debts or he will be killed. In the last minute Rudo saves a penalty from Tato and the match finishes goalless. Cursi quits football and returns home, and Rudo is shot, losing a leg and ending his career. They both end up back in Tlachtlán with their family where the simpler lifestyle seems to better suit them.
Cast
- Gael García BernalGael García BernalGael García Bernal is a Mexican film actor and director.-Early life:García Bernal was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the son of Patricia Bernal, an actress and former model, and José Ángel García, an actor and director. His stepfather is Sergio Yazbek, whom his mother married when García Bernal was...
as Tato "Cursi" Verdusco - Diego LunaDiego LunaDiego Luna is a Mexican actor known for his childhood telenovela work, a starring role in the film Y tu mamá también, and supporting roles in American films. He is also known for his roles in Rudo y Cursi and Milk. Luna also had minor roles in Frida and Before Night Falls...
as Beto "Rudo" Verdusco - Guillermo FrancellaGuillermo FrancellaGuillermo Francella is an Argentine actor and comedian. Apart from being a television performer, he also has had a long theatrical and film career.-Life and work:...
as Batuta - Dolores HerediaDolores HerediaDolores Heredia is a Mexican actress.She was born and grew up in La Paz. She's the seventh of ten children. Her mother was a photographer from Sinaloa and her father was a seaman from Guanajuato...
as Elvira - Adriana Paz as Toña
- Jessica Mas as Maya Vega
- Salvador Zerboni as Jorge W
- Joaquín CosioJoaquín CosíoJoaquín Cosío is an actor best known in México by his role as "Mascarita" in Matando Cabos. He has most recently played a major henchman, General Medrano, in the most recent James Bond film, Quantum of Solace and for his role in El Infierno as El Cochiloco.-Films & TV series:* A Better Life .......
as Arnulfo - Alfredo Alfonso as Don Casimiro
- Fermín Martínez as DT. Obdulio
- Eduardo Von as DT. Bruno Lopéz
- Jorge ZárateJorge ZarateJorge Alejandro Zárate Careaga is a Mexican football forward who plays for Puebla F.C. in the Primera Division de Mexico. He came up through the lower division under 17 and under 20 squads...
as Voz Bruno López - Axel Ricco as Mena
- Harold Torres as Trompo Tovar
- Gabino Rodríguez as Mafafo
- Alexander Da Silva as Gringa Roldan
- Armando Hernández as El Cienpiés
- Jorge MondragónJorge MondragónJorge Mondragón Vázquez is a retired diver from Mexico. He competed in four consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1980. Mondragón won two bronze medals at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba....
as Porro
- Enoc Leaño as Referee
- José Carlos Rodríguez as DT. Merodio
- Martín Altomaro as TV Commentator #1
- Pablo Lach as TV Commentator #2
- David FaitelsonDavid FaitelsonDavide Moshé Faitelson Pulido is a Mexican sports journalist currently working for ESPN Deportes. He is married, and has three daughters. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.-TV debut:...
as TV Commentator Voice #1 - Antonio Rosique as TV Commentator Voice #2
- Claudia Becker as Quetis
- Manuel Teil as Quico
- René CamperoRené CamperoRené Campero, born in Mexico City is a famous actor of movie, cinema, dubbbing and theater.- Trajectory :2011 Emperatriz... Roberto2010 Borrar de la memoria ... Hermes Zúñiga de Dios2009 Un mexicano más2009 Pobre diabla ... Carmelo...
as Gambler #1 - Sonia Guerrero as Gambler #2
- Jorge Guerrero as Gambler #3
- Andrés Almeida as Gambler #4
- Annette Fradera as Gambler #5
- Olinka Velázquez as Waitress
- Pedro De Tavira as Kid Race track #1
- Felipe de Lara as Kid Race track #2
- Fernanda De la Peza as Kid Race track #3
- Claudia SchmidtClaudia SchmidtClaudia Schmidt is a musician, originally from New Baltimore, Michigan, who has recorded folk, jazz, blues, and spoken word albums. She plays guitar and Appalachian dulcimer and sings. She has appeared numerous times on the radio program, A Prairie Home Companion. She has recorded with Paul...
as Kid Fresa #1
Production
Carlos Cuarón first formed the idea for the film while on a promotional tour for Y tu mamá tambiénY tu mamá también
Y tu mamá también is a 2001 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and co-written by Cuarón and his brother Carlos. The film is a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys taking a road trip with a woman in her late twenties; it stars Mexican actors Diego Luna and Gael García...
. He initially planned for only one character, but later decided to include a brother.
Principal photography began in summer 2007 in Cihuatlán
Cihuatlán
Cihuatlán is a coastal municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Its main city is also named Cihuatlán. It existed when the Spanish first seized Mexico from the Aztecs and was fittingly allowed to retain its name, which in the nahuat language means place of women.-Etymology:The word Cihuatlán...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The banana plantation where the brothers work in the film is actually owned by the Cuarón family. For his role Bernal wore blonde extensions to lengthen his hair while Luna dyed his hair black and grew a mustache to play the older brother. Additional filming took place in México City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
.
The character of Don Casimiro is based loosely on drug lord
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
Miguel Caro Quintero
Miguel Caro Quintero
Miguel Angel Caro Quintero was born in La Noria, Badiraguato Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1963. Caro Quintero is believed to have been one of the leaders of the now extinct Sonora Cartel.-Sonora Cartel:...
.
Release
Rudo y Cursi released on December 2008 in Mexico. It premiered internationally at the April 2009 San Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
and was screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
. It was released generally, on a limited basis, on May 8, 2009. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 25, 2009.