Almost Paradise

"Almost Paradise (Casi el paraíso) is a Mexican comedy film based on the novel of the same name by Luis Spota, published in 1956, though it transposes the narrative to a contemporary context with some creative liberties. The plot follows a supposed Italian count, Ugo Conti (Andrea Arcangeli), who uses his status to ingratiate himself with a shady Mexican politician, Alonso Rondia (Miguel Rodarte), in order to gain financial benefits. However, he reconnects with Frida Becker (Esmeralda Pimentel), Rondia's press chief, who has a past with Conti and knows the truth about him. The film adapts the story of the novel almost to the letter, with Spota originally writing it as a sharp critique of the new Mexican bourgeoisie that emerged in the years after Cardenismo, seeking legitimacy by aligning with elites – in this case, foreign nobility. However, the film lacks that critical spirit, and while it adds necessary elements for the present day – such as communication in media and social networks typical of the post-Peña Nieto era – it opts for a softer, more sympathetic, and accommodating narrative that does not point out or denounce anything unknown about the corrupt and rotten Mexican political elite. It’s a comedy like many others, which will certainly succeed in making you laugh, but not much more than that."