Sep 26, 2008–Roberto Schneider's drama “Arranancame la vida” (“Tear Up My Life”) is Mexico's entry into the running for a foreign language Oscar slot. With a budget of $6.5 to $7 million, it is considered the most expensive Mexican film ever made.
Distributed by Fox and produced by Altavista Films, “Tear Up My Life” is based on Angeles Mastretta's novel of the same name and stars Mexican ingenue Ana Claudia Talancon. It follows a woman's life from childhood to her marriage to a general from the Revolution on his way to becoming the governor of puebla. The film portrays a turbulent period in Mexican history as modern feminism began, in the 1930s.
The film broke domestic box office records, pulling in $4.3 million in the first 10 days. Opening on a long holiday weekend, on September 16, Mexico's Independence Day, it outperformed former hits, such as “Km. 31,” “Under the Same Moon” and “Y tu mama tambien.”
The film will close Chile's Vina del Mar Film Festival in November.