Doña Herlinda and Her Son 1985

imdb-logo 6.6 / 10

Doña Herlinda and Her Son

A manipulative mama deftly manages the life of her homosexual son so that he can have his cake and eat it too. A woman of means, she does this by allowing her son, a doctor, to tryst in her home with his lover. Putting her son's happiness above all else, she then arranges a marriage of convenience to a woman.

A manipulative mama deftly manages the life of her homosexual son so that he can have his cake and eat it too. A woman of means, she does this by allowing her son, a doctor, to tryst in her home with his lover. Putting her son's happiness above all else, she then arranges a marriage of convenience to a woman.

Videos & Photos

All 1 Videos & 4 Photos

... Doña Herlinda

... Ramón

... Olga

... Herself

... Billy

User reviews

See All 1 Reviews

23 Jun 2021 by raistlin3

Doña Herlinda and Her Son, the 1985 film from writer/director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, is not only a funny, warm gay romantic comedy, it also marks the first time that a Latin American film depicted gay relationships positively. I enjoyed this film a great deal, and recommend it. The story, and filmmaking style, are both effectively simple. The wealthy widow Doña Herlinda (played with beguiling warmth and slyness by Guadalupe Del Toro) dotes on her somewhat spoiled physician son Rodolfo (Marco Antonio Trevino), who is romantically involved with a younger man, music student Ramón (Arturo Meza). When Doña Herlinda decides it's time for her son to take a wife – while still keeping his lover – she uses all of her considerable maternal wiles to put an ingenious plan into motion. With her huggable pear-shaped demeanor and butter-wouldn't-melt smile, who would suspect that she is actually a romantic Machiavelli. (Or, if you prefer, a low-key Auntie Mame; she's even been called a Latina Yiddishe mama!) I don't want to give away too many plot points – I found some of them delightfully surprising – but I will say that, by the film's end, Doña Herlinda has brought the greatest possible happiness to the greatest number of people... including herself. Despite the title, the film is more about "her son" than Doña Herlinda. The opening sequence, in which Rodolfo visits Ramón at his seedy boarding house, is not only sweetly sexy, and believable, it also shows the deep connection between the two men. And although Doña Herlinda is the larger-than-life character, it is Rodolfo and Ramón's love which grounds the film. Hermosillo excels at including telling – and witty – details of their relationship. Playfully highlighting Rodolfo's immaturity, Hermosillo hangs a huge poster from the action film Mad Max over his bed; and he and Ramón make love inches from a Star Wars action figure (Boba Fett the bounty hunter). In a sublime comic touch, in the next room Doña Herlinda listens to Bach, and the lovers, while flipping through a bridal catalog... smiling. Hermosillo does not shy away from the raw emotions brought up when Rodolfo springs the news on Ramón that he is going to marry Olga, a woman hand-picked by his mother. Not only do we see Ramón's pain and Rodolfo's ambivalence, Hermosillo spends much of the last half of the film exploring, with depth and understanding, how the two lovers come to navigate the complexities of their new situation. Another strength of the film is that Hermosillo presents Olga – in a subtle performance by Letícia Lupercio – as a well-developed character, not as the caricature you might expect: think of the Mr. or Miss Wrong's in countless screwball comedies. Olga is personable, feisty yet open-minded; she even works for Amnesty International. Not only do we see that she and Rodolfo are good friends (they had better be!), late in the film there's a wonderful scene in an ice cream shop between Ramón and Olga. Although neither speaks The Truth about their situation, we see real healing begin to take place between Rodolfo's lover and wife. For all the film's warmth and good spirits, I am disturbed that it has more "don't ask / don't tell" situations than any US mlitary base. It never shows why Rodolfo has to bow to middle class conformity, especially considering the financial independence of his family. Like the society in which it was produced, it goes along with the assumption that a man of Rodolfo's age must marry a person of the opposite sex. So much in Doña Herlinda of real importance is never spoken about, primarily the fact that Rodolfo and Ramón are not only gay – as everyone knows (wink wink) – but represent the only truly loving couple in the film. Yet despite all the silence, this is not the sombre, repressive territory of an Ingmar Bergman film; it's colorful, sunlit Guadalajara, with its mariachi bands and spacious homes. And while so much goes unspoken, it is also clear that Doña Herlinda has no problem with her son's being gay. From the start she fully accepts Ramón as a second son, even telling him to move in, since her son's "bedroom is very big." Later, when Rodolfo is away on his honeymoon, Doña Herlinda does everything she can to cheer up Ramón, even devising the plan which becomes the film's ingenious, if controversial, resolution. There is real generosity of heart in Doña Herlinda, both the woman and the film – but not a word acknowleding that her son and Ramón are more truly "married" than Rodolfo and Olga. One reason why Rodolfo and Ramón are so effective at holding the film together is that they do talk about their feelings – which we see dramatized with considerable depth – and work through them. They are the most authentic characters in the film; the ones we want to see live happily ever after. Yet even they never mention the social, let alone political implications of their relationship. I am not saying that the film should have been some sort of political tract. But what makes all its silences so disconcerting is that they permeate, and undermine, a film otherwise brimming with vitality. If you are looking for a positive spin, you could argue that Doña Herlinda's many unspoken assumptions – including the still-timely one of gay "invisibility" – make it an ideal film to discuss at length with friends. Dramatically, I think the film would have been more effective if Rodolfo and Ramón's love had dared to speak its name. Then the story could have moved in some compelling new directions, perhaps both more farcical (which could have been fun) and emotional. I would have liked to see how Doña Herlinda, and Olga, deal with Rodolfo's being openly gay. Yet we should remember that this film was historically important in its positive positive depiction of gay relationships. Hermosillo said at its 1985 release, "The most disturbing thing about the film to some of the 'machista' audience has not been the sex in the film but the tenderness - it's so tender, the relationship between the men, and some cannot accept that. I think that's terrible." Consider how far GLBT cinema, and people, have come in less than two decades. Some people have criticized Doña Herlinda's so-called "amateurish" filmmaking. I disagree. The simplicity of visual design – few films use medium shots so relentlessly – works well with this "straightforward" story. And Hermosillo, in his other films, is highly regarded for his creative use of cinematic style. Hermosillo, raised in Guadalajara (where he sets many of his films), began directing in the late 1960s. Most of his (to date) 26 films were produced through independent companies; in fact, Doña Herlinda star Guadalupe Del Toro also financed the film, which was co-produced by her son Guillermo (recently the director of such acclaimed Hollywood hits as Mimic and Blade II, and the exceptional fantasies The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth). Hermosillo is openly gay (still unusual in conservative Mexico), and often makes films which deal with same-sex issues, including 1977's La Apariencias Engañan (Deceitful Appearances). But his popularity in his native country may be attributed to the sophistication he brings to his tales about the Mexican middle class, exploring their desires, and fears, with both wit and understanding.

Release Date:

Nov 11, 1985 (Mexico)

Run Time:

1hr 30`

MMPA Rating:

Original Language:

Spanish

Production Countries:

Mexico

Status:

Released

Related Movies To

Doña Herlinda and Her Son - Doña Herlinda and Her Son

Write Review

Found 1 reviews in total

23 Jun 2021 by raistlin3

Doña Herlinda and Her Son, the 1985 film from writer/director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, is not only a funny, warm gay romantic comedy, it also marks the first time that a Latin American film depicted gay relationships positively. I enjoyed this film a great deal, and recommend it. The story, and filmmaking style, are both effectively simple. The wealthy widow Doña Herlinda (played with beguiling warmth and slyness by Guadalupe Del Toro) dotes on her somewhat spoiled physician son Rodolfo (Marco Antonio Trevino), who is romantically involved with a younger man, music student Ramón (Arturo Meza). When Doña Herlinda decides it's time for her son to take a wife – while still keeping his lover – she uses all of her considerable maternal wiles to put an ingenious plan into motion. With her huggable pear-shaped demeanor and butter-wouldn't-melt smile, who would suspect that she is actually a romantic Machiavelli. (Or, if you prefer, a low-key Auntie Mame; she's even been called a Latina Yiddishe mama!) I don't want to give away too many plot points – I found some of them delightfully surprising – but I will say that, by the film's end, Doña Herlinda has brought the greatest possible happiness to the greatest number of people... including herself. Despite the title, the film is more about "her son" than Doña Herlinda. The opening sequence, in which Rodolfo visits Ramón at his seedy boarding house, is not only sweetly sexy, and believable, it also shows the deep connection between the two men. And although Doña Herlinda is the larger-than-life character, it is Rodolfo and Ramón's love which grounds the film. Hermosillo excels at including telling – and witty – details of their relationship. Playfully highlighting Rodolfo's immaturity, Hermosillo hangs a huge poster from the action film Mad Max over his bed; and he and Ramón make love inches from a Star Wars action figure (Boba Fett the bounty hunter). In a sublime comic touch, in the next room Doña Herlinda listens to Bach, and the lovers, while flipping through a bridal catalog... smiling. Hermosillo does not shy away from the raw emotions brought up when Rodolfo springs the news on Ramón that he is going to marry Olga, a woman hand-picked by his mother. Not only do we see Ramón's pain and Rodolfo's ambivalence, Hermosillo spends much of the last half of the film exploring, with depth and understanding, how the two lovers come to navigate the complexities of their new situation. Another strength of the film is that Hermosillo presents Olga – in a subtle performance by Letícia Lupercio – as a well-developed character, not as the caricature you might expect: think of the Mr. or Miss Wrong's in countless screwball comedies. Olga is personable, feisty yet open-minded; she even works for Amnesty International. Not only do we see that she and Rodolfo are good friends (they had better be!), late in the film there's a wonderful scene in an ice cream shop between Ramón and Olga. Although neither speaks The Truth about their situation, we see real healing begin to take place between Rodolfo's lover and wife. For all the film's warmth and good spirits, I am disturbed that it has more "don't ask / don't tell" situations than any US mlitary base. It never shows why Rodolfo has to bow to middle class conformity, especially considering the financial independence of his family. Like the society in which it was produced, it goes along with the assumption that a man of Rodolfo's age must marry a person of the opposite sex. So much in Doña Herlinda of real importance is never spoken about, primarily the fact that Rodolfo and Ramón are not only gay – as everyone knows (wink wink) – but represent the only truly loving couple in the film. Yet despite all the silence, this is not the sombre, repressive territory of an Ingmar Bergman film; it's colorful, sunlit Guadalajara, with its mariachi bands and spacious homes. And while so much goes unspoken, it is also clear that Doña Herlinda has no problem with her son's being gay. From the start she fully accepts Ramón as a second son, even telling him to move in, since her son's "bedroom is very big." Later, when Rodolfo is away on his honeymoon, Doña Herlinda does everything she can to cheer up Ramón, even devising the plan which becomes the film's ingenious, if controversial, resolution. There is real generosity of heart in Doña Herlinda, both the woman and the film – but not a word acknowleding that her son and Ramón are more truly "married" than Rodolfo and Olga. One reason why Rodolfo and Ramón are so effective at holding the film together is that they do talk about their feelings – which we see dramatized with considerable depth – and work through them. They are the most authentic characters in the film; the ones we want to see live happily ever after. Yet even they never mention the social, let alone political implications of their relationship. I am not saying that the film should have been some sort of political tract. But what makes all its silences so disconcerting is that they permeate, and undermine, a film otherwise brimming with vitality. If you are looking for a positive spin, you could argue that Doña Herlinda's many unspoken assumptions – including the still-timely one of gay "invisibility" – make it an ideal film to discuss at length with friends. Dramatically, I think the film would have been more effective if Rodolfo and Ramón's love had dared to speak its name. Then the story could have moved in some compelling new directions, perhaps both more farcical (which could have been fun) and emotional. I would have liked to see how Doña Herlinda, and Olga, deal with Rodolfo's being openly gay. Yet we should remember that this film was historically important in its positive positive depiction of gay relationships. Hermosillo said at its 1985 release, "The most disturbing thing about the film to some of the 'machista' audience has not been the sex in the film but the tenderness - it's so tender, the relationship between the men, and some cannot accept that. I think that's terrible." Consider how far GLBT cinema, and people, have come in less than two decades. Some people have criticized Doña Herlinda's so-called "amateurish" filmmaking. I disagree. The simplicity of visual design – few films use medium shots so relentlessly – works well with this "straightforward" story. And Hermosillo, in his other films, is highly regarded for his creative use of cinematic style. Hermosillo, raised in Guadalajara (where he sets many of his films), began directing in the late 1960s. Most of his (to date) 26 films were produced through independent companies; in fact, Doña Herlinda star Guadalupe Del Toro also financed the film, which was co-produced by her son Guillermo (recently the director of such acclaimed Hollywood hits as Mimic and Blade II, and the exceptional fantasies The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth). Hermosillo is openly gay (still unusual in conservative Mexico), and often makes films which deal with same-sex issues, including 1977's La Apariencias Engañan (Deceitful Appearances). But his popularity in his native country may be attributed to the sophistication he brings to his tales about the Mexican middle class, exploring their desires, and fears, with both wit and understanding.

Cast & Crew of

Doña Herlinda and Her Son - Doña Herlinda and Her Son

Directors & Credit Writers

Cast

... Doña Herlinda

... Ramón

... Olga

... Herself

... Billy

Produced By

... Executive Producer

Videos & Photos of

Doña Herlinda and Her Son - Doña Herlinda and Her Son

Videos ( 1)

Photos ( 4 )

Related Movies To

Doña Herlinda and Her Son - Doña Herlinda and Her Son

Found 12 Movies in total

poster-Yo no soy esa
Yo no soy esa (2024)

0 /10

Susana wakes up after 20 years in a coma. Now a 90s teenager in a 21st century woman's body, Susana will have to navigate a world in which nothing is familiar to her and she will have to learn to live in it.

Run Time: 1hr 35` . MMPA: . Release: 31 Oct 2024

Director: María Ripoll

Producer:

Stars: Verónica Echegui , Adam Jezierski , Ángela Molina , Silma López , Daniel Grao , Oriol Cervera

poster-Los de la culpa
Los de la culpa (2024)

0 /10

A group of comedians lose popularity in their shows; invited by a prosperous film director, they decide to attend a mysterious party that gets out of control and ends in murder. Will they be the culprits?

Run Time: 1hr 30` . MMPA: . Release: 21 Mar 2024

Director: Fernando Ayllón , Ángel Ayllón

Producer: Danny Matiz

Stars: Henry Delgado , Santiago Rendón , Rafael Taibo , Ricardo Quevedo , Iván Marín , Gustavo Bernate

poster-The Hawk
The Hawk (2023)

0 /10

Criminals control Mexico and wrestling is now illegal. A retired fighter and a policewoman join forces to stop the perfidious criminal who has kidnapped her son.

Run Time: 1hr 25` . MMPA: . Release: 25 Oct 2023

Director: Eduardo Valenzuela

Producer: Eduardo Valenzuela

Stars: Ianis Guerrero , Guillermo Quintanilla , Said Sandoval , Ana Jimena Villanueva , Héctor Soberón , Miguel Pizarro

poster-Bullets and Katanas
Bullets and Katanas (2023)

0 /10

How would you react if you were a Martial Arts expert, had a Katana in your hands, and your daughter had just been kidnapped. Under this premise, Sensei Marín launches a race against time with Nacho, his best friend.

Run Time: 1hr 31` . MMPA: . Release: 26 May 2023

Director: Sergio Antón Pascual , Juan Hervella-Rego , Enrique Pérez

Producer: Alberto Hidalgo , Víctor Hugo Antón , Anartz Azkuenaga

Stars: José A. Marín , Nacho Serapio , Víctor Hugo Antón , David "Prnze" Nichol , Iris Marín , Emilio Linder

poster-Bukraken!
Bukraken! (2023)

0 /10

In 2016, journalism student Susana Rojas disappeared without a trace while making a documentary for her end-of-career work. After several years, her project is finally uncovered.

Run Time: 1hr 10` . MMPA: . Release: 15 May 2023

Director: David Díaz

Producer:

Stars: Elyre Ross , Rubén Trujillo Yranzo , Dani Ultares , Ferran Arís , Carla Vigara , Shathu Entayla

poster-¡Qué Huevos, Sofía!
¡Qué Huevos, Sofía! (2025)

0 /10

Sofia gives everything for the company where she works, but the position she was promised is given to the owner's niece. She and other colleagues, tired of working for an unbearable boss, quit to start their own bakery. What they did not consider is that their ex-boss will not rest until he sees them fail.

Run Time: 1hr 46` . MMPA: . Release: 27 Feb 2025

Director: Carlos Santos

Producer:

Stars: Giovanna Romo , Sergio Mayer , Liliana Arriaga , Emmanuel Orenday , Yanet Garcia , Alejandro de la Madrid

poster-My Fault
My Fault (2023)

6.2 /10

Noah must leave her city, boyfriend, and friends to move into William Leister's mansion, the flashy and wealthy husband of her mother Rafaela. As a proud and independent 17 year old, Noah resists living in a mansion surrounded by luxury. However, it is there where she meets Nick, her new stepbrother, and the clash of their strong personalities becomes evident from the very beginning.

Run Time: 1hr 57` . MMPA: . Release: 08 Jun 2023

Director: Domingo González

Producer: María Contreras , Álex de la Iglesia , Araceli Pérez-Rastrilla

Stars: Nicole Wallace , Gabriel Guevara , Marta Hazas , Iván Sánchez , Eva Ruiz , Víctor Varona

poster-Abracadaver
Abracadaver (2024)

0 /10

To save their father's life, three siblings skilled in magic, escapism, and swindling must steal a priceless mummy from an old hacienda during the "Night of the Dead" party. Success means fortune and peace; failure brings severe consequences.

Run Time: 1hr 55` . MMPA: NR . Release: 02 Oct 2024

Director: Pancho Rodríguez

Producer: Guido Rud , Pancho Rodríguez

Stars: Alberto Estrella , Denisse Corona , Pablo Abitia , Olaff Herrera , Ianis Guerrero , Magdalena Carballo

poster-Your Fault
Your Fault (2024)

0 /10

The love between Noah and Nick seems unwavering despite their parents' attempts to separate them. But his job and her entry into college open up their lives to new relationships that will shake the foundations of both their relationship and the Leister family itself.

Run Time: 1hr 58` . MMPA: NR . Release: 26 Dec 2024

Director: Domingo González

Producer: Álex de la Iglesia , Carolina Bang

Stars: Nicole Wallace , Gabriel Guevara , Iván Sánchez , Marta Hazas , Eva Ruiz , Víctor Varona

poster-Ask Me What You Want
Ask Me What You Want (2024)

0 /10

After his father's death, Eric Zimmerman travels to Spain to oversee his company's branches. In Madrid, he falls for Judith and engage in an intense, erotic relationship full of exploration. However, Eric fears his secret may end their affair.

Run Time: 1hr 54` . MMPA: . Release: 29 Nov 2024

Director: Lucía Alemany

Producer:

Stars: Gabriela Andrada , Mario Ermito , Fernando Oyagüez , Paco Tous , David Solans , Celia Freijeiro

poster-What We Wanted to Be
What We Wanted to Be (2024)

0 /10

An impossible love story that begins outside a movie theater, continues in a café and could end with the two protagonists together… if real life wasn’t much more complicated than the movies. United by their love of cinema, these two main characters decide to live the lives they dreamed of and not the lives they are destined to live. In a series of encounters, imagination triumphs over reality and everyday reality takes a back seat.

Run Time: 1hr 24` . MMPA: . Release: 18 Oct 2024

Director: Alejandro Agresti , Mariano Turek

Producer: Tatiana Cannistraci , Analía Perez , Mariángeles Casella

Stars: Eleonora Wexler , Luis Rubio , Antonio Agresti , Carlos Gorosito

poster-Welcome to Paradise
Welcome to Paradise (2024)

0 /10

A young couple falls in love instantly and decides to get married in a luxurious Caribbean wedding, but their vacation turns into a roller coaster of jealousy that ends in chaos.

Run Time: 1hr 31` . MMPA: . Release: 28 Mar 2024

Director: Ani Alva Helfer

Producer: Fior D'Aliza Martinez , José Ramón Alama , Héctor Valdez

Stars: Andrés Salas , Tati Calmell , Katia Condos , Franco Cabrera , Patricia Barreto , Bruno Odar