Dizziness (Spanish: Vértigo, lit. 'Vertigo') is a 1946 Mexican drama film directed by Antonio Momplet, starring María Félix, Emilio Tuero and Lilia Michel. It tells the story of a love triangle where a young widowed mother finds herself attracted to her daughter's fiancé. The film is based on the 1926 novel Alberte by Pierre Benoit.
Contents
Plot
Mercedes Mallea (María Félix), a young and attractive woman, is left widowed shortly after her youthful marriage and chooses to isolate herself on her remote hacienda. She dedicates her life to financing an expensive, elite education abroad for her only daughter, Gabriela (Lilia Michel). Over the course of a five-year separation, Mercedes leads a lonely, dowdy existence, viewing maternal sacrifice as her sole purpose.
The family dynamic drastically shifts when an adult Gabriela returns to the estate to introduce her mother to her wealthy fiancé, Arturo (Emilio Tuero). Upon their introduction, an immediate and intense mutual attraction develops between Mercedes and Arturo, pulling Mercedes out of her self-imposed isolation and thrusting her into a glamorous social re-debut. As Arturo relentlessly pursues his future mother-in-law, Mercedes undergoes a psychological conflict, desperately attempting to suppress her desire out of maternal loyalty to her daughter.
Despite her attempts to reject his advances, the clandestine emotional rivalry and brewing love triangle cause severe emotional distress to Gabriela, who grows increasingly suspicious of the dangerous bond. Realizing the permanent psychological devastation she is inflicting upon her child, Mercedes reaches a moral breaking point. Unable to reconcile her competitive maternal instincts with her forbidden passion for Arturo, the toxic domestic tension escalates in a profound family tragedy that fractures the household.
Cast
María Félix as Mercedes Mallea
Emilio Tuero as Arturo
Lilia Michel as Gabriela
Julio Villarreal as Don Agustín
Emma Roldán as Nana Joaquina
Manuel Noriega as Santos
Jorge Mondragón as Miguel Mendoza
Rosa Castro as Augusta
Arturo Soto Rangel as Padre Moncada
Eduardo Arozamena as Don José María
Production
According to María Félix in her autobiography Todas mis guerras, the script was originally written for Dolores del Río, but by a mistake of a messenger it was brought to Félix. On the contrary, the script for La selva de fuego (written for Félix), came into the hands of Del Río, who starred in the film.
Awards
It received the 1947 Ariel Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Lilia Michel) and Best Special Effects, and was nominated for Best Actress in a Minor Role (Emma Roldán), Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.