Movie Review: Propiedad Ajena

By Diego Orlandini
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010

OTownStyle.com's Diego Orlandini attended the opening night of the 3rd Annual Orlando Hispanic Film Festival. Read his review of one of the featured movies, Propiedad Ajena.

The opening night at the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival was filled with elegance, style, and some of the Hispanic communities biggest stars and rising talents. World-renowned actress and singer Maria Conchita Alonso and actor Steven Bauer, among other important names of the Latino film industry, dressed for the occasion, posed for the cameras, and shared their enthusiasm for the event. It was a celebration, the beginning of this great film festival, brought to Orlando during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Director Luis Velez's film Propiedad Ajena was the opening feature film that evening; it was introduced by Patrick Meson of the Mexican Consulate and Commissioner Tony Ortiz. Based on the novel by Enrique Berruga Filloy, this film portrays the connections between past and present for the Samano family of Texas, guided by Miranda Samano (played by Mexican actress Ludwika Paleta). Upon discovering an ancestor's diary, written in 1848, Miranda struggles to find the truth of the family's origins and the final destination of the rest of her ancestor, Dona Amalia Samano.

Watch the trailer to Propiedad Ajena

The film masterfully weaves the plot between a few central themes of conflict--the past and present are not only confronted, but there is also a major focus between north versus south and between the United States and Mexico, with Texas at the middle of it all.

The past is set during the 1800s, when Mexican families living in Texas are forced out of their homeland when the area is acquired by the newly-formed United States of America.

The present is set in Texas, mostly between Miranda's jobs at a glass repair shop and an upscale bar. The story becomes more complicated and interconnected when she meets Matt Crossman (Rib Hillis), with whom she is apparently destined to continue a star-crossed love story their ancestors started. The coincidences are crucial for the development of the story.

Clothes, colors, and the texture of the film clearly distinguish the past and present, making a good transition for the viewer to understand as the film jumps between times. The love scenes are strong, passionate, artistic and light up the tone of the film. The story spins in many directions. Who is the bad guy, who tricked who? Who betrayed who? What are the real intentions?

The film is constructed around love, betrayal, suffering, revenge, the importance of tradition, the connections of the past with the present, and the search for the truth. Propiedad Ajena brings out the most basic human conditions, which makes such a great film--a passionate one--and keeps the viewer caring about Miranda's crusade. I highly recommend it.

The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival will be at the Plaza Cinema Cafe in downtown Orlando until September 20th.