Arturo Ripstein is one of the great directors of Mexican cinema and his 1966 debut feature Time to Die here makes its American home video debut in a beautiful new 50th anniversary restoration. Written by legendary Latin American writers Gabriel García Márquez and Carlos Fuentes, the film offers up a twist on the revenge Western. Juan (Jorge Martínez de Hoyos) returns to his rural hometown after serving 18 years in prison for murder. He just wants to put the past behind him and live his life in peace, but the sons of his victim have vowed revenge. Time to Die plays like an anti-spaghetti-Western set in a dusty village that time forgot—with no cars, no telephones, and not even a railroad connection to the rest of the world (it could be 1965 or 1865). The culture of machismo and the codes of honor and vengeance are heavily critiqued in this tragic melodrama, in which none of the players escape their fate as long as they continue to stubbornly hold on to outmoded values. Mature, sophisticated, and visually striking (without being flashy), this is a compelling classic of Mexican cinema and a memorable beginning of a major career. Extras include audio commentary by Ripstein and actor Enrique Rocha (in Spanish with optional subtitles), and an introduction by filmmaker Alex Cox. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Time to Die
Film Movement, 89 min., in Spanish w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.99 Volume 33, Issue 2
Time to Die
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: