Re-watching the opening scene of Nacho Libre today, it’s impossible not to see the influence it has had on a generation of quiet, character-driven absurdist comedies (from What We Do in the Shadows to The Great North ). It refuses to wink at the audience. It asks you to take a man who calls a potato an eagle egg completely seriously.
To escape this pressure, Ignacio retreats to his private quarters. And here, the opening scene delivers its pièce de résistance. Nacho Libre - Opening Scene
The turning point of the opening scene—and indeed, the catalyst for the entire movie—is the "Gross Sandwich." In a moment of frustrated alchemy, Ignacio scrapes the leftovers from the plates into a pile. He takes a day-old tortilla, scoops the refried beans, the nasty chips, and a dollop of guacamole, and creates a monstrosity of flavor. Re-watching the opening scene of Nacho Libre today,
The opening scene of Nacho Libre is a masterclass in efficient, tone-perfect storytelling. In less time than it takes to boil water for a potato (a key plot point later on), the film establishes setting, character, motivation, and a unique brand of spiritual-absurdist humor. Let’s put on the stretchy pants and break down why the "Monastery to Mask" sequence is one of the great comedy openings of the 21st century. To escape this pressure, Ignacio retreats to his
He stuffs the pants under his habit and waddles out of the room, his silhouette now vaguely triangular—a monk on top, a wrestler below.
What follows is perhaps the most memorable visual of the film’s opening act.
In this one gesture, the entire movie is summarized. Nacho Libre is not about a man who wants to be a hero. It is about a man who wants to taste the cheese. The film’s central conflict—the divine vs. the delicious—is born in this silent, stolen morsel.