culture
MADEIN MEXICO cultura
Camera, lights, action and sombreros—its feted actors and directors have made Mexico cinema’s latest hot spot, says Melanie Godsell
HECHO EN MÉXICO Luces, cámara, acción y sombreros, sus fiesteros actores y directores han hecho del cine mexicano un producto de calidad, dice Melanie Godsell Angelina Jolie may have hogged the spotlight when she hosted the premiere of her action blockbuster Salt in Cancún in July but, long-term, all eyes are on Mexico as its film industry becomes a major player in international cinema. Hollywood’s A-list has been beating a path to Mexico over the past decade—with the likes of Fast & Furious 4 (2009), Quantum of Solace (2008), You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008) and The Legend of Zorro (2005) being partially or entirely filmed there—but it hasn’t always been that way. Mexican movie stars of days gone by had to make an altogether more arduous trip in the other direction and they worked hard at being accepted into Hollywood society when they arrived. Movie stars have always been one of Mexico’s big exports, none more so than Dolores del Río, who moved to Hollywood and found fame in the silent movies of the 1920s before turning her talents to the talkies. While credited with being the first Mexican woman with international appeal in Hollywood, del Río was often cast as a clichéd Mexican character and soon became disillusioned. She returned home in search of better roles, albeit on smaller-scale movies such as Flor Silvestre (1943), which made her the most famous movie star in Mexico. Another of Mexico’s cinematic pioneers was María Félix, who took the well-trodden path to Hollywood, completing 47 movies during her career. Ricardo Montalbán also headed to Hollywood to make a name for himself. His repertoire, however, was largely limited to gigolos, banditos and bullfighters, and in later years Montalbán became so frustrated at Hollywood’s portrayal of Mexicans that he founded the Nosotros Foundation to advocate for Latinos in the industry. Fortunately, times have changed and Mexican cinema is finally asserting itself on a world stage. Key to this radical transformation were Amores Perros (2000) and Y tu Mamá También (2001), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón respectively. These films were symptomatic of a new boldness in Mexican movie-making—launching Mexican stars in front of and behind the camera, reaching worldwide audiences, garnering huge critical approval and winning awards around the globe.
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Clockwise from right, Dolores del Río; Angelina Jolie; Benicio del Toro; (from left) Diego Luna, Maribel Verdú and Gael García Bernal; Ricardo Montalbán En sentido horario desde la derecha, Dolores del Río; Angelina Jolie; Benicio del Toro; (desde la izquierda) Diego Luna, Maribel Verdú and Gael García Bernal; Ricardo Montalbán