You're Killing Me Susana, based on the novel by Jose Agustin - 8 out of 10

You're Killing Me Susana, based on the novel by Jose Agustin
8 out of 10



You're Killing Me Susana is a very entertaining, energetic, unfortunately somewhat uneven comedy drama.

You may need a Latino, perhaps more passionate, involved perspective to go with the flow, otherwise, it could feel bizarre at times.
But then eccentricity is a good ingredient and explains the quirky humor of some of the scenes.

In the approximate words of the hero, you need some salmonella, we can't eat like the Americans...

Everything is so safe, but so tasteless 
You need to eat taco, the penis of the bull cooked...
What is the local dish, specific food in this American town?
A burger with cream?
Exactly my point...

Eligio is the man Killed by Susana, portrayed by a spectacular, still young Latino actor who has already given historical performances, in some of the best movies ever made

Gael Garcia Bernal

Granted, his Eligio will not become legendary, but it is a very good performance, nevertheless.
The protagonist loves Susana, but is never shy from philandering and cavorting with various women.

Indeed, his wife, Susana, will repeat a few times the mantra:

Mexican macho man

One day, the spouse disappears.
When informed by a neighbor, the husband denies at first, only to call for information and find that if she took her things - she took a few - that means 

Abandonment of conjugal domicile...

This denial cannot last long, for the woman does not return.
The hero finds that she has travelled to a Writers' Workshop at an University in America.

Eligio sells the car for less than he thinks it is worth, with the four thousand dollars he collects he travels to the US.
That sum of money coupled with funny, but rather suspicious answers get him targeted, stripped, searched in the rectum by customs and other agencies officials.

Where are you staying?
At the university...
How long?
I don't know...

Answers like that are sure alarm bell and with Trump in the White House, the protagonist is lucky to have avoided some months in Guantanamo Bay.
More serious, his wife is involved with a Polish man, who looks like he is twice the size of the diminutive, but vocal and aggressive spouse, who threatens his rival with a serious beating on a couple of occasions.

The developments are at some times outre,but they can also be pathetic.
Yes, we feel sorry for the man who has to see his wife copulating with a stranger, see her abandon him not once, but three times!

But some of his habits are simply unacceptable in the world of today...well, if we except Saudi Arabia, Pakistan - where mobs want to kill a poor woman who has "committed blasphemy" and where they have monstrous "honor killings" - and so many other countries where women are abused because Sharia or some other law, rule, stupid medieval tradition is still in force.

The Macho Mexican Man wants and does beat the posterior of his wife.

Parts of this are so good, but as evidenced here, some portions are...let us just say confusing...