El costo de la vida

About the movie

Beginning in the late 80's, Mexico started experiencing some rapid economic ups and downs (mostly downs). This melodrama explores what one of the downturns does to Miguel (Rafael Sanchez Navarro), a young man working in an architectural firm, when he loses his job. When he is fired, he unsuccessfully tries to sell books door-to-door, to no avail. When he finally attempts to bribe his way into a taxi driving job, he loses the last money he has. Completely lacking in street smarts, shamed by the notion that he might be supported by his wife (Alma Delfina), who still has her job. He then robs a pharmacy and discovers that money can be easily obtained that way. He persuades her to accompany him as he undertakes his new "job" of robbing grocery stores. Needless to say, this does not work out well.