dignified drunk and very convincing

raar-1

This is one of those movies that made an unerasable impression in my memory. I've never seen a total drunk remaining his dignity and (remains of) aristocracy the way Finney is able to pull off so convincingly. The scene that stands out in portraying this (imho) is when he's flat out unconscious on a dusty road, almost being run over by a car and still somehow saves his face.

The way this man's life is being placed against the background of the fading European colonial system with the upcoming of fascist movements on the colorful and dreadful Mexican day of the dead celebrations is almost delirious in itself. The slow evolving of the why's and how's of the story and the questions and discrepancies in it complete the dream/drunken-like atmosphere. I had the feeling I never knew whether the story was being told as was or whether it all was just coming from within Firmin's mind.

As Dr-Bob stated in his comment, Under the Volcano doesn't leave you with a light-hearted feeling. However dignified, Firmin is a sad character. He knows it, he just doesn't seem to care.

score 10/10

raar-1 24 March 2002

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0216598/