In celebration of ‘Mexicanidad’

LITTLE IS heard in this part of the world about the Mexican film industry and that’s a shame, as the Latin American country has produced some of the best directors in modern film industry – think Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Birdman”, “The Revenant), Alfonso Cuaron (“Gravity”) and Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”).
Several of the nation’s films have won major awards over the years, especially during its golden era, and now, next weekend, the Thai Film Archive and the Embassy of Mexico in Thailand are joining up to offer cinephiles an all-too-rare glimpse of “Mexicanidad” (Mexicaness). through four classic films.
“The so-called “Mexicanidad” was extensively reflected through the dramas captured on celluloid during 1930s-1960s,” Thitipong Duangkong, lecturer in Hispanic and Latin American Studies for Thammasat University’s Liberal Arts programme, told XP.
“The four prestigious masterpieces chosen for the upcoming film festival will showcase the Mexican national identity.”
Kicking off the weekend is “Pedro Paramo”, a 1967 film adapted from a novel by the same name by Juan Rulfo. It tells the story of a man named Juan Preciado who travels to his recently deceased mother's hometown, Comala, to find his father, only to come across a literal ghost town.. The novel was given a cold critical reception when it was published in 1961 and sold just 2,000 copies. That all changed years later and “Paramo” went on to become a key influence for Latin American writers such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez. “Pedro Paramo” has been translated into more than 30 different languages and the English version has sold more than a million copies in the US.
Also screening on Saturday is “Dona Barbara”, the romantic and tragic story of a wealthy landowner hardened by an experience she had as a teenager. Directed by Fernando de Fuentes, the book on which it was based was penned by Romulo Gallegos, a respected writer and former president of Venezuela.
Sunday will see the screening of the 1932 movie “Santa”, the first Mexican narrative sound film. Directed by Antonio Moreno and starring Lupita Tovar, it was based on the novel of the same name by Federico Gamboa. It tells the story of a Mexican girl called Santa Tovar who is being cheated on by her arrogant husband, soldier Marcelino.
After being rejected by family and friends she finds shelter in a whorehouse and becomes a bitter and cynical woman. In 1994, the Mexican magazine Somos published its list of the “100 best movies of the cinema of Mexico" in its 100th edition and named “Santa” as its 67th choice.
The two-day festival wraps with 1961’s “La Rosa Blanca”, adapted from a novel by the mysterious German-born Mexican-based author, B Traven. “La Rosa Blanca” narrates the story of an illiterate Indian living an idyllic existence as a landowner on Mexico’s Gulf Coast until the greed of an American oil company gets in the way. He is murdered and the lives of all those around him are destroyed as the company takes over the land by crooked means.
All the films have a Spanish soundtrack with English subtitles, and admission is free.

Mexican Film Week: Literature is next Saturday and Sunday at the Film Archive on Putthamonthon Sai 5 Road.
“Pedro Paramo” screens at 1pm Saturday followed by “Dona Barbara” at 3pm. “Santa” and “La Rosa Blanca” will be screened on Sunday at 1pm and 3pm respectively.
Call (02) 4822013 to 14 or email [email protected].