The movie debuted in competition at the
Sofia International Film Festival in March 2004. It reportedly almost got into the
Cannes Film Festival of the same year and that lead to the invitation at the
Three Continents Festival in
Nantes. After the festival tour, the movie was supported by
Cinemark Theatres for its independent commercial release in Mexico. The film opened in 3 screens in Mexico City on 9 September 2005 . It subsequently opened in other selected cities of
Mexico, including
Monterrey, with the same 3 original copies. The Mexican theatrical distribution of the film eventually lasted over 5 months. The movie was released in the US territory straight to DVD on 24 January 2006.
Critical reception The film received mixed to positive reviews.
Cahiers du cinéma called
Soba "an astonishing self-produced film noir, based on an unforeseeable script". According to film critic
Stéphane Delorme (comité de sélection,
Cannes), it was "the best and most exciting Mexican film of the year" and
El Financiero said it was "a great movie".
Radio France Internationale lauded the film's "disturbing" atmosphere, calling it "a UFO in Mexican cinema" and
Uno Mas Uno labeled it as "a ruthless incursion into the world of perversion and corruption". Stephane Pichelin of
Leif Magazine also appreciated the film saying: "
Soba confirms the renewal of Latin American fiction cinema". Claudia Soberón's performance as Justina was appreciated but the job of the other actors was generally panned: according to Rafael Aviña of
Reforma, her portrayal was "outstanding" but the rest of the cast was "unremarkable". He also added that "subtlety isn't really Alan Coton's thing".
La Jornada described Claudia Soberón as "a sensual and disturbing Justina" while Diana González of
El Norte called the rest of the cast "totally uneffective". She went on saying that the "pretentious film merely focused on its own solemn and pompous style". ==Festivals==