This unique film cycle for the month of September is on the Mexican Revolution, a historic event in the emergence of the nation, which contributed largely to the development of its cinema. In all Saturdays of the month and in two screening schedules (4PM and 6PM), enjoy these Mexican films for free at Instituto Cervantes de Manila. For inquiries, please call 526-1482.

September 11

El compadre Mendoza (Godfather Mendoza) / Screening Time: 4PM / Director: Fernando de Fuentes, Matilde Landeta

During Mexican Revolution, Rosalio Mendoza survives by making and winning favors from both factions, the governmental forces and Zapata’s Army. His hacienda welcomes everybody, and Mendoza is considered a good friend of his guests. Eventually, the situation becomes unsustainable and he has to take sides. Betrayal and deception overcome and Mendoza ‘s dark side surfaces.

De todos modos Juan te llamas (The General’s Daughter) / Screening Time: 6PM / Director: Marcela Fernández Violante

This movie deals with the family conflicts of a very macho governmental general, which are in turn paired with the fight of the “cristeros” who, besides being religious fanatics, are peasants who fight for their rights.

September 18, 2010

Ora sí, tenemos que ganar (Pray We Have To Win) / Screening Time: 4PM / Director: Raul Kamffer

The abuses of authority and the employer to make mining town workers, influenced by reading the articles of Ricardo Flores Magon in the newspaper Regeneración, organize clandestinely and rage against the U.S. , which owns the mine, which refuses to rescue a group of workers trapped by a landslide.

La negra Angustias (The Black Angustias) / Screening Time: 6PM / Director: Matilde Landeta

Based loosely on real life and the novel by Francisco Rojas Gonzales, the story is set in Mexico in 1903 centring around Angustias, a young mulatta girl whose father is a revolutionary bandit. She grows up surrounded by tales of his exploits and stories of the brutal oppression by the ruling regime. Angustias’ refusal to conform to the traditional role of a Mexican woman makes the other villagers feel threatened by her. When one of the men attempts to rape her, she stabs him and flees the village, using her father’s reputation to establish herself as a revolutionary leader and heroine.

September 25

Frida, naturaleza viva (Frida, Living Nature)/ Screening Time: 4PM / Director: Paul Leduc
A Mexican film based on the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Narrated in a poetic and rich in imagery, shows scenes from the life of this woman from her childhood to her death, through her relationship with her father, her husband, her sister Cristina, bisexual relationships, among other highlights of the most famous Latin American artist and listed in the world.

Reed, México insurgente (Reed: Insurgent Mexico) / Screening Time: 6PM / Director: Paul Leduc

In 1913, the North American journalist John Reed crosses the Mexican border and travels to the quarter of Pancho Villa supporter general Urbina in Durango . Throughout a year and a half, Reed is able to gain the confidence of the revolutionaries and ends up actively becoming jumbled in the fight.

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