Carlos Cuarón's directorial debut RUDO Y CURSI is a hilarious and poignant film that focuses on the relationship between two rival brothers in rural Mexico. By chance, a talent scout spots the two siblings and offers them contracts to become professional soccer players in Mexico City. Viewers shouldn’t expect a sports spectacle though, as the majority of soccer takes place off camera. This allows the filmmaker to focus on the film’s greater themes of masculinity, family and social mobility in Mexican culture. Cuaron’s comedic tone and the natural chemistry between actors Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna helps lighten the mood for the film’s more serious and dramatic themes. Rudo and Cursi’s ignorance of urban life makes the harsh reality of their character’s backgrounds all the more believable. Take for example the Rudo and Cursi’s fascination with freeze-dried shrimp in instant ramen and Bernal’s hilarious, off-key rendition of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.” In both scenes there are undercurrents of permeating class issues within Mexican society. Like his brother Alfonso, it’s clear that Carlos is a natural and gifted storyteller, making RUDO Y CURSI an enjoyable and socially conscious film.