LA TAREA (HOMEWORK)

Mexico, 1991, 85 minutes, Colour.
Jose Alonso, Maria Rojo.
Directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo.

La Tarea is an experimental film, using the techniques of video cameras in real time and editing techniques to make an impact for an experiment. A woman is asked to do an assignment, about sexuality, she places a camera under a table and has a sexual encounter with her boyfriend. There is also the film of the two and their discussions, especially after the filming – with the two stories merging into one.

The film was accused of pornographic treatment, it is explicit in its use of sexuality, but raises issues of relationships, the role of women, and mutual exploitation.

1. The style of the film, its content, treatment? Issues of censorship? Permissive?

2. The visual style, the shots, video camera, the viewpoint, real time? The takes, the action? Revelation of characters – even though their heads and faces were not often scene? Body language? Control and exploitation?

3. The plot, the irony, the couple, the assignment, performance, role-play, issues of marriage, children? The title?

4. The woman, dowdy, having to do the assignment, the setup, tidying the house, placing the camera? The man, his marriage, the past, relationships and the affair, his boasts, her play? Reactions? Return, vanity? His succumbing? His life, the phone call, stripping, sexual behaviour, the reaction to the camera? The end and the ironies and the assessment?

5. The man and his style, the divorce, the invitation, talking, working? Memories? Stances, leaving and return? The stripping and his vanity? Performance and aftermath? The audience watching the video, the story, belief and disbelief? The twist?

6. The limitations of the film-making, used for communicating with the audience – and the purpose of the film?