I Promise You Anarchy


I Promise You Anarchy is a 2015 Mexican drama film, directed and written by Julio Hernández Cordón. The film stars Diego Calva Hernández and Eduardo Eliseo Martinez as two long-time friends and lovers, who after a failed business are separated by the mother of one of them.
The film premiered at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival, being the only Latin film competing for the Golden Leopard Award, and was screened at the Contemporary World Cinema Section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. After its exhibition at the 13th Morelia International Film Festival, the film earned the Guerrero Award for Best Mexican Feature and a Special Mention by the Jury. The film also received two nominations at the 2016 Ariel Awards for Best Director and Best Cinematography.

Plot

Miguel and Johnny are friends and lovers, having known each other since childhood. They spend time skating together with friends in the streets of Mexico City. They sell their blood on the black market and recruit other donors. A large transaction ends badly for everyone involved. Miguel's mother decides to take him out of the country, far from Johnny.

Cast

Diana Sánchez, artistic director of the Panama International Film Festival, stated that the film is "a lovely and heartfelt exploration of love and friendship. Beautifully shot, the film demonstrates Hernández’s versatility and progression as a filmmaker. The scenes of the skateboarders in Mexico City, for instance, are kinetic and feel very realistic”. According to the director, he tried to mix documentary, fiction and film noir, with the film showing "the innocence of youth and the moments you try to play the bad guy, the criminal, but you are not really that kind of character". Te Prometo Anarquía won one part of a split prize at the 2015 Panamá International Film Festival, where it received US$20,000 dollars to pay post production fees; the rest of the prize was awarded to Costa Rica's El Sonido de las Cosas, directed by Ariel Escalante.

Reception

The film was named "The Best Mexican Film of 2015" by Fernanda Solórzano of Letras Libres.

Awards and nominations