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We Are What We Are

Somos lo que hay

Mexico

2010

99 Min
Color
2.35:1
Spanish
  • Currently 3.0/5 Stars.
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DIR Jorge Michel Grau

EXEC Liliana Pardo

PROD Nicolás Celis

SCR Jorge Michel Grau

DP Santiago Sanchez

CAST Francisco Barreiro, Adrián Aguirre, Miriam Balderas, Carmen Beato, Alan Chávez, Juan Carlos Colombo, Paulina Gaitan, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Miguel Ángel Hoppe, Octavio Michel, Esteban Soberanes, Humberto Yáñez, Jorge Zárate

ED Rodrigo Ríos

PROD DES Alejandro García

MUSIC Enrico Chapela

Cannes (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs), New York, Stockholm (Competition), !F Istanbul (Competition), CPH PIX (Thrills and Kills), Transilvania (Shadows), Chicago (International Competition)

Synopsis

A middle-aged man dies in the street, leaving his widow and three sons destitute. The devastated family is confronted not only with his loss but with a terrible challenge – how to survive. For they are cannibals. They have always existed on a diet of human flesh consumed in bloody ritual ceremonies… and the victims have always been provided by the father. Now that he is gone, who will hunt? Who will lead them? How will they slaken their horrific hunger? The task falls to the eldest son, Alfredo, a teenage misfit who seems far from ready to accept the challenge…. –Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

Wall

Displaying 4 of 13 wall posts.
Picture of Sunrise

Sunrise

16May12

A poorly constructed narrative makes this difficult to digest. The makers equate long duration with a the tone of the "serious," which are not mutually exclusive concepts. These shots do little to push the narrative forward, and ultimately prove a waiting game. What makes the work even harder to accept is an implicit (and seemingly unintentional) politics: demonization of the impoverished, despite the perspective.

Paolo Simeone

21Jan12

Uanema. (cit.)

Picture of Michael Harbour

Michael Harbour

19Jan12

Some very good moment to moment filmmaking but, where I enjoy a movie which is a journey of discovery, revealing its story as it progresses, this felt more like the filmmaker withholding information throughout the movie - and I never learned enough to make it a satisfying experience. That said, this film shows a lot of promise for a first film and I'll definitely give Grau's next film a look.

Picture of Suchatravisd

Suchatravisd

1Aug11

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE is a dark story of an impoverished family doing what they must to survive, just like so many in the world, except for one thing. The family kills other humans for food. Despite the gruesome notion of a cannibalistic family, the film is less horror and more drama and suspense. The entire film is portrayed with an underlying sense of an apocalyptic state, and packs a powerfully creepy ending.

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Displaying 5 of 42 fans.

Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

NYFF 2010. Jorge Michel Grau's "We Are What We Are"

By David Hudson on October 7, 2010

"Cannibalism may be the nominal calling card of We Are What We Are," writes Nick Schager in the Voice, "but ritualistic gruesomeness is merely

read article
W184

Movie Poster of the Week: The Posters of the 48th New York Film Festival

By Adrian Curry on September 24, 2010

Put on your best costume jewelry: this evening, as every New York cinephile knows, the 48th New York Film Festival kicks off at Lincoln Center

read article
W184

Cannes 2010. Stragglers Roundup

By David Hudson on May 27, 2010

There are more reviews and interviews still to come, but the coverage-of-the-coverage phase wraps up right here with a last round on films

read article

Frightfest 2010: WE ARE WHAT WE ARE review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
We Are What We Are is a film that tries to humanise seemingly ordinary people who do monstrous things, but it fails to do a good job of this for two main reasons; all of its subjects are neither……
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fantasia 2010: WE ARE WHAT WE ARE Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[Our thanks to Lauren Baggett for the following review.]I’ll enthusiastically and without reservation echo what Todd Brown said back in March – this is the film of the year. An astoundingly assured debut
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2010: SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
[The final, complete version of Jorge Michel Grau’s We Are What We Are premiered tonight in the Director’s Fortnight program in Cannes and though I wasn’t able to attend thanks to a late-running meeting
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fantastic Fest 2010: SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
“Slow building” is the description that comes immediately to mind, and at least a half dozen people had the same reaction immediately after the screening, including myself, either through Twitter or in
read on Twitchfilm.com

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE Review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Perhaps the world’s first kitchen sink cannibal movie, Jorge Michel Grau’s We Are What We Are (Somos lo que hay) carves its own minimalist niche in a well-worn genre. When the patriarch of their family
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2010: Mexican Cannibal Drama WE ARE WHAT WE ARE Goes To IFC

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
While I’m still awaiting final details we’ve just learned that IFC Films has purchased North American rights to Jorge Michel Grau’s cannibal drama We Are What We Are. No firm word on where North American
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2010: An Exclusive First Look At The Trailer For Mexican Cannibal Drama WE ARE WHAT WE ARE (SOMOS LO QUE HAY)

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
The time has finally come where we stop talking about Mexican cannibal film Somos Lo Que Hay and show it to you instead. Jorge Michel Grau’s film blew my mind when an in-progress version premiered in Guadalajara
read on Twitchfilm.com

The Mexican Cannibals Are Coming.

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
[The trailer is now in hand and loaded in to the Twitch video system. We’ll be taking it live at noon EST Friday.]I’ve been writing about Mexican cannibal film We Are What We Are (Somos Lo Que Hay) since……
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2010: Fresh Images From Mexican Cannibal Thriller SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE)

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Still my favorite film of the year so far, Jorge Michel Grau’s cannibal thriller Somos Lo Que Hay (aka We Are What We Are) will be unleashed on the world as part of Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. Though
read on Twitchfilm.com

Meet The Family From Mexican Cannibal Thriller SOMOS LO QUE HAY

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Jorge Michel Grau’s Somos Lo Que Hay (We Are What We Are) remains the surprise film of the year for me so far. Produced as part of the first feature program at the CCC – Mexico’s national film school……
read on Twitchfilm.com

Stellar UK Trailer For Fantastic Fest Winner WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Right on the heels of winning the prestigious Next Wave Awards for Best Film and Best Script at Fantastic Fest – and immediately before its imminent arrival at the Sitges festival in Spain – a new trailer
read on Twitchfilm.com

US Poster, Trailer And Three Clips For Fantastic Fest Winner WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

By Twitchfilm.com on April 29, 2011
Enough has been said in these pages about Jorge Michel Grau’s Fantastic Fest Next Wave winner We Are What We Are that I’ll spare you the recap – those who need it, check the links below – and simply……
read on Twitchfilm.com

Stellar UK Trailer For Fantastic Fest Winner WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

By Twitchfilm.net on October 8, 2010
Right on the heels of winning the prestigious Next Wave Awards for Best Film and Best Script at Fantastic Fest – and immediately before its imminent arrival at the Sitges festival in Spain – a new trailer
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fantastic Fest 2010: SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) Review

By Twitchfilm.net on September 29, 2010
“Slow building” is the description that comes immediately to mind, and at least a half dozen people had the same reaction immediately after the screening, including myself, either through Twitter or in
read on Twitchfilm.net

Cannes 2010: SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE) Review

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
[The final, complete version of Jorge Michel Grau’s We Are What We Are premiered tonight in the Director’s Fortnight program in Cannes and though I wasn’t able to attend thanks to a late-running meeting
read on Twitchfilm.net

Meet The Family From Mexican Cannibal Thriller SOMOS LO QUE HAY

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
Jorge Michel Grau’s Somos Lo Que Hay (We Are What We Are) remains the surprise film of the year for me so far. Produced as part of the first feature program at the CCC – Mexico’s national film school…
read on Twitchfilm.net

Cannes 2010: Fresh Images From Mexican Cannibal Thriller SOMOS LO QUE HAY (WE ARE WHAT WE ARE)

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
Still my favorite film of the year so far, Jorge Michel Grau’s cannibal thriller Somos Lo Que Hay (aka We Are What We Are) will be unleashed on the world as part of Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. Though
read on Twitchfilm.net

The Mexican Cannibals Are Coming.

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
[The trailer is now in hand and loaded in to the Twitch video system. We’ll be taking it live at noon EST Friday.]I’ve been writing about Mexican cannibal film We Are What We Are (Somos Lo Que Hay) since…
read on Twitchfilm.net

Cannes 2010: An Exclusive First Look At The Trailer For Mexican Cannibal Drama WE ARE WHAT WE ARE (SOMOS LO QUE HAY)

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
The time has finally come where we stop talking about Mexican cannibal film Somos Lo Que Hay and show it to you instead. Jorge Michel Grau’s film blew my mind when an in-progress version premiered in Guadalajara
read on Twitchfilm.net

Cannes 2010: Mexican Cannibal Drama WE ARE WHAT WE ARE Goes To IFC

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
While I’m still awaiting final details we’ve just learned that IFC Films has purchased North American rights to Jorge Michel Grau’s cannibal drama We Are What We Are. No firm word on where North American
read on Twitchfilm.net

Fantasia 2010: WE ARE WHAT WE ARE Review

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
[Our thanks to Lauren Baggett for the following review.]I’ll enthusiastically and without reservation echo what Todd Brown said back in March – this is the film of the year. An astoundingly assured debut
read on Twitchfilm.net

Frightfest 2010: WE ARE WHAT WE ARE review

By Twitchfilm.net on September 5, 2010
We Are What We Are is a film that tries to humanise seemingly ordinary people who do monstrous things, but it fails to do a good job of this for two main reasons; all of its subjects are neither…
read on Twitchfilm.net

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Displaying 5 of 35 lists.

Reviews

Displaying 3 of 3

‘WE ARE WHAT WE ARE’ (2010) REVIEWED ★★★★★

By Omar Antonio Iturria​ga on May 26, 2011

Take a chance

By MR. Univers​e on March 6, 2011

Now there haven’t been too many cannibal movies lately or i believe evewr that didn’t resort to a supernatural element as the reason. In this film there are no mutants, zombies or aliens. Only humans…  read review

El cineasta se pone el pie

By Rafael Paz on December 9, 2010

Los caníbales son un tema escabroso en la cinematografía mundial, hay pocas películas que traten sobre el tema de manera seria y como metáfora de una sociedad que se come a sí misma, una sociedad tan…  read review

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