I Don’t Know Whether to Slit My Wrists or Leave Them Long (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set entirely in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, where five neighbors share an apartment building that becomes the focal point of the story. The city's blend of tradition and modernity mirrors the characters' struggles between their public personas and private truths. Mexico City's fast-paced, chaotic energy serves as both backdrop and emotional amplifier for the personal crises that unfold among the residents.

• mexico city
• setting
• apartment building
• urban life

The movie centers on three major themes: betrayal, identity, and loss. Betrayal unfolds through infidelity between couples and hidden truths among friends, identity is explored through characters concealing their true selves, and loss is embodied by Félix's career-ending injury and the emotional fallout that follows. These themes interweave across the residents' lives, creating a web of personal crises that culminate in the violent confrontation shown at the start of the film.

• themes
• betrayal
• identity
• loss
• infidelity

Betrayal functions as the engine of the plot and appears in nearly every relationship within the apartment building. Nora and Aarón's marriage collapses under the weight of Aarón's infidelity, while Julia's affair with him adds another layer of deception to the group. Lucas's hidden sexuality represents a quieter but equally painful form of betrayal within his own marriage. These intertwined betrayals build pressure over eight months until they erupt into the crisis shown in the opening scene.

• betrayal
• infidelity
• aaron
• nora
• julia
• marriage

Félix moves into the vacant apartment next door and gradually gets to know his new neighbors, who all carry secrets of their own. His presence acts as a catalyst that exposes the hidden tensions, affairs, and deceptions already simmering among the group. As Félix builds relationships with each resident, the building's carefully maintained facades begin to crack, leading directly to the confrontation that opens the film.

• felix
• catalyst
• neighbors
• new arrival
• tensions

Félix is a former professional footballer whose career was cut short by a devastating injury, leading him to seek stability in a new environment in Mexico City. He represents resilience and the search for love and belonging after a major personal loss. His character is defined by vulnerability beneath a charming exterior, and his interactions with the other residents force each of them to confront truths they have been avoiding.

• felix
• footballer
• injury
• new neighbor
• resilience

Lucas is a fashion designer living in a marriage of convenience while secretly struggling with his sexuality. He becomes emotionally drawn to Félix, which further complicates his already conflicted personal life. His character arc embodies the tension between societal expectations and personal authenticity, making him a central figure in the film's exploration of identity and self-acceptance.

• lucas
• fashion designer
• identity
• sexuality
• marriage of convenience

The film explores identity as something carefully concealed behind social facades, particularly through Lucas's struggle to hide his sexuality within a conventional marriage. Félix's arrival challenges the status quo and forces the characters to confront who they really are versus who they pretend to be. Ultimately, the movie emphasizes the importance of acceptance and authentic self-expression, even when that truth disrupts existing relationships.

• identity
• self-expression
• sexuality
• authenticity
• acceptance

Félix's career-ending injury represents a sudden, irreversible loss that reshapes his entire identity and sense of purpose. Once a footballer with a clear future, he is forced to rebuild his life in an unfamiliar environment while carrying grief and the need to find new belonging. This loss parallels the emotional losses experienced by the other characters and makes him uniquely positioned to connect with people who are also struggling to redefine themselves.

• felix
• injury
• loss
• footballer
• identity

Nora is a young woman whose marriage to Aarón is collapsing under the weight of his unfaithfulness. Confrontational and determined, she actively seeks the truth behind her husband's lies rather than accepting them passively. Her character embodies the pain of a fractured relationship and the search for resolution, even when that pursuit drives her toward dangerous extremes.

• nora
• marriage
• aaron
• infidelity
• confrontation

Julia is an aspiring singer who becomes entangled in the romantic chaos of the apartment building through her affair with Aarón. Her character represents ambition tangled with personal turmoil, as her musical aspirations compete with the fallout of her relationship choices. She grapples throughout the film with the consequences of her decisions, adding another layer of complexity to the interconnected web of secrets.

• julia
• singer
• affair
• aaron
• ambition

Although classified as a comedy, the film tackles serious issues including infidelity, hidden homosexuality, depression, and a suicide attempt. The humor tends to be ironic, sardonic, and absurdist, allowing the characters to cope with painful situations through wit and self-awareness. This bittersweet tone keeps the film from becoming purely bleak while still honoring the gravity of its themes.

• comedy
• tone
• bittersweet
• dark humor
• irony

The story is set in contemporary Mexico City, reflecting modern relationship dynamics and current societal norms. There are no specific historical markers, which makes the story feel timely and relatable to present-day audiences. The modern urban setting supports the film's focus on fast-paced, complicated personal lives where infidelity, identity struggles, and personal crises intersect.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• setting

The title is a variation of a quote commonly attributed to Truman Capote that captures a dark indecision between self-destruction and endurance. In the film, it reflects the characters' struggles with whether to give in to despair or push through their painful personal situations. The phrase also sets the tone for a story that mixes bleak subject matter with sardonic, self-aware humor rather than pure tragedy.

• title
• truman capote
• meaning
• tone
• despair