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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 52 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   16,249 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tommy Lee Jones
Writer (WGA):
Guillermo Arriaga (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 February 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
Nobody is beyond redemption. more
Plot:
Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
4 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Melissa Leo
 (From The AV Club. 30 July 2008, 9:01 PM, PDT)

Stars Sing Up a Storm at Independent Spirit Awards
 (From WENN. 5 March 2006)

User Comments:
Sad and sometimes quirky journey about friendship, loss and regret more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tommy Lee Jones ... Pete Perkins

Barry Pepper ... Mike Norton

Julio Cedillo ... Melquiades Estrada (as Julio César Cedillo)

Dwight Yoakam ... Belmont

January Jones ... Lou Ann Norton

Melissa Leo ... Rachel

Levon Helm ... Old Man with Radio

Mel Rodriguez ... Captain Gomez
Cecilia Suárez ... Rosa

Ignacio Guadalupe ... Lucio
Vanessa Bauche ... Mariana
Irineo Alvarez ... Manuel (as Irineo Álvarez)
Guillermo Arriaga ... Juan

Josh Berry ... Border Patrolman

Rodger Boyce ... Salesman
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Three Burials: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (Australia) (DVD box title) (UK) (DVD box title)
The 3 Burials of Melquiades Estrada (USA) (alternative spelling)
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (International: English title)
Trois enterrements (France)
Los tres entierros de Melquiades Estrada (Argentina) (International: Spanish title) (Mexico) [es]
Üç defin (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kolmesti kuopattu (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Le tre sepolture (Italy) [it]
Melquiades Estrada három temetése (Hungary) [hu]
Oi treis tafes tou Melquiades Estrada (Greece) [el]
Os três Enterros de Um Homem (Portugal) [pt]
Three Burials - Die drei Begräbnisse des Melquiades Estrada (Germany) [de]
Três Enterros (Brazil) [pt]
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language, violence and sexuality.
Runtime:
121 min | Argentina:121 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Turkey:107 min (TV version)
Country:
USA | France
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:15A | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Germany:12 (f) | USA:R (No. 42191) | Finland:K-13
Company:
Europa Corp. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The producers tried to sway Tommy Lee Jones from using Mexican pastel colors for the title cards, but he told them he wouldn't budge on his decision. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: After the hotel scene, when Pete and Melquiades Estrada drop the girls off at their vehicle, Melquiades Estrada gets back in the truck and puts the window up, a crew member can be seen in the reflection of the window. more
Quotes:
[Pete is forcing Mike to sleep besides the body of Melquiades Estrada]
Mike Norton: Hey! Hey, you!
Pete Perkins: My name is Pete.
Mike Norton: Well, Pete, the ants are eating your friend.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Three Burials: Making the Music (2006) (V) more
Soundtrack:
You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
165 out of 179 people found the following comment useful:-
Sad and sometimes quirky journey about friendship, loss and regret, 1 November 2005
8/10
Author: IAN-Cinemaniac from Belgium

I just had the pleasure of seeing this wholly original modern-day American western. Just when you think you have this film's plot pigeon holed it takes you in a different direction. THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA is in part a revenge story, but it's also much more than that. There are no one dimensional characters. As much as you want to hate Barry Pepper's numbed border patrol officer, you can't help but feel sorry for him. And Tommy Lee Jones' Pete will break your heart. He and Pepper have never been better and Jones' direction is natural and subtle. My only problem with the film was sometimes it got a little too quirky for its own good. But for the most part I believed every moment and really cared for these lost characters. It's one of those films that really leaves you thinking about a lot of stuff, from mortality and loss to the very real problems of racism and inhumanity. It's never preachy or self aware and isn't out to impress, it's just telling a story. I highly recommend this movie. It's by far one of the best films I've seen recently.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Stick with acting, Tommy Lee. chowdog2
I Really Loved This Movie retav
'He is beyond redemption' ??? Novosibirsk
This movie made me laugh... ShirleyM-4
The Pretentious Weekend at Bernie's ddk999
The Cold One He's Drinking... Kenny_13
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