Based on the Nobel Prize Winner's novel, the Egyptian Naguib Mahfouz.
The story, translated from El Cairo to Mexico City's downtown, narrates the life of the members of the neighbourhood and the connection between them.
Don Ru, the owner of the local pub; Eusebia, his wife; Chava, his son and Abel his friend, who emigrate to USA in search of fortune; Susanita, the single landtender always dreaming to marry a good man; Guicho, the pub's employee, who extracts the money when Don Ru is not there and finally marries Susanita; Alma, the very good looking girl, the Abel's dream, who becomes a luxury prostitute while he's away; Jimmy, the handsome young man Don Ru becomes infatuated with, etc.
This movie won the Ariel (the Mexican Oscar) as best movie in 1995.