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Midaq Alley

Midaq Alley

Drama · 1995

Heated tempers, frustrated desires and dashed hopes plague a diverse group of individuals whose lives cross paths in Mexico City. There is the bar-owner's son, Chava, who yearns to emigrate to America. A poor barber, Abel, is madly in love with the gorgeous Alma, who eventually becomes a high-class prostitute. Finally, there is Susanita, the desperate spinster who pursues many love affairs in hopes of finding a husband.

Movie details

Midaq Alley

“The most awarded film in Mexican history.”

1995 Drama 2h 20m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

Heated tempers, frustrated desires and dashed hopes plague a diverse group of individuals whose lives cross paths in Mexico City. There is the bar-owner's son, Chava, who yearns to emigrate to America. A poor barber, Abel, is madly in love with the gorgeous Alma, who eventually becomes a high-class prostitute. Finally, there is Susanita, the desperate spinster who pursues many love affairs in hopes of finding a husband.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Midaq Alley?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jorge Fons

Written by

Vicente Leñero

Ernesto Gómez Cruz

Ernesto Gómez Cruz

Don Ru

María Rojo

María Rojo

Doña Cata

Salma Hayek Pinault

Salma Hayek Pinault

Alma

Bruno Bichir

Bruno Bichir

Abel

Delia Casanova

Delia Casanova

Eusebia

Margarita Sanz

Margarita Sanz

Susanita

Claudio Obregón

Claudio Obregón

Don Fidel

Court is in session

Put Midaq Alley on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.