In Cinema: Carlos Reygadas - Our Time

Hard to decipher, the movies of Carlos Reygadas. Our Time is set in northern Mexico. Juan (Reygadas himself) and his wife Esther (Natalia López ) live there happily as a nuclear family. Some time ago they already agreed to have an "open" relationship. At a party Esther meets Phil (Phil Burgers). She gives him an open pitch - and Juan encourages Esther. Do "open" relationships work? I think man is not made for it. I tried it, but something came up: Jealousy. An old wisdom is that love is heaven, jealousy is hell. Juan also succumbs to jealousy. But he hadn't expected it at all! Suppressed passion and doubts lead to a downward spiral. Jealousy grows. Juan has to admit to self-doubt. What remains of his self-image now that he lives as a horned husband? Reygadas Our Time is a real rarity. A spiritual drama, a mystery. Obviously, the makers are aware of the mistakes of their human characters and try to get to the bottom of them. Again and again the protagonists try to tap the energy of Tlaxcala, this place in the north of Mexico. A romantic backdrop, but will they prove to be worthy of it? The wide panorama makes us think of things like faith and religion. Things that are not only missing in mainstream cinema. Juan tries to control his surroundings. Almost like a god. But he fails miserably, almost comically. The fatal thing is that we, the audience, feel just as lost and frustrated! Our Time is not just Juan's story. Our Time reflects us as humans how we stubbornly resist accepting our humanity. We are neither the center of the world, nor the center of anyone else! Our Time is not a profane allegory. It is a sad and miraculous reminder that we are mortal.

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