"The center of Mexico City is a place loved by Arturo Ripstein for 'the desperation which emanates from every stone, every corner, every person.' With the deftness of a life-long denizen, Ripstein quickly ushers us into one of these desperate corners. Here, compressed into claustrophobically tiny rooms harshly lit by naked bulbs and bilious flourescents, simmering in a jumbled urban detritus of surreally decayed interiors, his characters concoct a variety of dreams and schemes. Israel, an herbalist and fortune-teller, helps his longtime friend Matilde construct an elaborate model of Aztec Mexico City, hoping to make a fortune by selling it to a U.S. museum...When Clara, a stern-looking public health officer, declares her intent to close his store, Israel distracts her with a flirtatious reading and curative treatment...They plunge into a torrid but increasingly troubled affair. (Love Lies) is directed and acted with a gusto for life's tragi-comedy, and with a love of human courage and folly reminiscent of Fellini." --George Eldred, San Francisco International Film Festival `90