Dust to Dust

Por la libre (released internationally under the English title Dust to Dust) is a 2000 Mexican road movie directed by Juan Carlos de Llaca, narrating the journey of two Mexican teenagers from Mexico City to Acapulco to accomplish their grandfather's last wish. The movie won the Audience Choice Award at the Chicago Latino Film Festival and a Special Mention at the Havana Film Festival. Plot The movie opens as the two protagonists, Rodrigo and Rocco join their families to hold a birthday party for their grandfather, Rodrigo Carnicero, who through most of the movie is only referred to as "El abuelo" (Spanish for Grandpa). Rodrigo is a regular middle-class teenager, while Rocco (who, in fact, is also named Rodrigo but shortens his name to Rocco) is rather more unconventional, a marijuana user and writer for an independent magazine, and has deep conflicts with his father Luis. Despite being cousins and the best efforts of the grandfather, Rodrigo and Rocco have a troubled relationship and are constantly harsh to each other. During the meal, the boys' parents (the sons of Carnicero) talk about the grandfather's will and the upcoming marriage of Luis. After a furious fight with Luis, Carnicero suffers a heart attack and dies. After Carnicero's death, the family goes into conflict about the terms of his will, which grants money to a longtime friend even when Luis and his brother claim he does not have a right to anything as he is not related to Carnicero, the fact that Rodrigo inherited his grandfather's car, and the expenses of running the big house where he lived. After a funeral mass, held despite the desire Carnicero stated in his will, Rocco realizes his father and uncles are not willing to fulfill the other petition on the will: to have his ashes thrown into the sea at sunrise, in Acapulco, and decides to do it on his own.