Directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra with a screenplay by Parra and María Camila Arias, I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is a drama-thriller film starring Anna Castillo, Darío Yazbek Bernal, Natalia Solián, Alexis Ayala, Carmen Beato, Ivano Palatucci, Juan Minujín and others. Produced by Arturo Sampson, Paloma Molina and Antonio Asensio Mosbah, the film, aka No voy a pedirle a nadie que me crea, has a runtime of 117 minutes and is based on the novel by Juan Pablo Villalobos.
– The Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Juan Pablo’s life takes a horrible turn when he gets involved with gangsters after travelling from Barcelona to Spain for a PhD programme. The more he tries to free himself of this problem, the more he finds himself pulled into the deep dark underbelly of the criminal organisation, unable to escape. In a story filled with subtle humour and satire, will Juan Pablo be able to lead a normal life ever again?
I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is a tight and interesting story about Juan Pablo and a bit about the others in his life as well. He’s in a tight spot, a situation which is both absurd and shocking and one that can end up hurting him and everyone he loves. Juan Pablo’s involvement with the police comes at the cost of his sanity and possibly his education and future, and the way that the series depicts these turns of events is both humorous and anxiety-inducing.
Our protagonist is an anxious man whose life, even before this debacle, was not the most smooth sailing. However, the moment he gets involved in his cousin’s mess is when the pace truly shifts for the movie, and things get a bit more interesting. That being said, viewers who are expecting something more traditional might find it difficult to engage with the movie, and some might even find it boring at times. There are moments, especially pertaining to the class and culture divide, and the discussions surrounding specific discriminatory topics will be a bit difficult to catch as well, especially for those who don’t know much about the area or its different issues.
The movie satirises intellectualism as well, but sometimes its themes become a bit much to watch, personally. It’s not to say that it’s boring or anything, but there are moments that feel a bit stretched out sometimes, and the pacing falters. However, the movie is still delightful and makes for an absurd watch, especially for those who like satire, dry humour and absurd storylines that point to something deeper.
It is, though, quite clear that the film (and I am guessing the novel as well) wanted to highlight the violence in Mexico that is prevalent even today and the corruption that is present in everyday life. That life can change in an instant – the storyline might also be extremely relatable for Mexico’s inhabitants as it feels like a story grounded in reality, in spite of the humour and the bizarre moments.
Natalia Solián and Darío Yazbek Bernal are fantastic in this autobiographical fiction tale and make watching this rather uncomfortable. Bernal sucks you in with his uncomfortable portrayal of Juan Pablo, and Solián’s Valentina is a character you would want to follow to know whether or not she comes out swimmingly in the end.
I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me Review: Final Thoughts
This Spanish comedy-thriller is an interesting and thrilling watch from start to finish, with an ending that will leave you stumped. Its twisted storyline portrays a gripping story that does a great job of holding your interest with its wit, humour and drama. It’s a very interesting watch but be prepared for a twisted and cerebral ride.
I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is streaming on Netflix.
Also Read: Thanksgiving 2023: Bring a Korean Twist to Your Dinner With These Treats!