Mexican Cinema

Get excited for your visit to Mexico by discovering the culture through film! During its golden age (the 1930s to the 1960s), the Mexican film industry was the most influential in all of Latin America, and it continues to thrive today. The annual Guadalajara Film Festival is the largest film festival in South America. Below are just a few films from various eras that have left their mark. Not all of them are directed by Mexicans, as the country attracts filmmakers from all over the Spanish-speaking world.

Los Olvidados by Luis Buñuel (1950)

This fascinating film explores the harsh daily lives of poor children in the slums of Mexico City. Despite its strong social commentary, it retains Buñuel’s trademark surrealist touch. It won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register in 2013.

El Topo by Alejandro Jodorowsky (1970)

This 1970s western has a cult following due to its peculiar nature and is often screened at local cinemas at midnight. An anonymous gunslinger crosses the desert with his son to challenge the four greatest shooters around, each representing a particular religion or philosophy. Note: This is an early example of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work and is quite experimental. Many viewers find it bizarre.

El Mariachi by Robert Rodriguez (1993)

This film is famous for being one of the cheapest in cinema history, costing only $7,000—some of which the director earned by working as a test subject in pharmaceutical labs. In this thriller, a young musician arrives in a backwater town and ends up with a bandit’s guitar case full of weapons. While the shoestring budget comes through in the production value, it’s an eminently watchable film and launched Robert Rodriguez’s career.

Y tu mamá también by Alfonso Cuarón (2001)

A sad but beautiful tale about three young people who get to know each other during a road trip along the Pacific coast. The film offers an accurate portrayal of 1990s Mexican politics, depicting a youth that is not as carefree as it seems. It won the Best Screenplay Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2002.

Look for more films in upcoming articles!