Frames of a Nation, a brand new film column at The Eagle, aims to explore and uplift international cinema through taking a deep dive into directors’ work that has impacted and shaped a nation’s filmography. Through in-depth analysis, The Eagle hopes to shed more light on films and cultures seldom seen by American audiences.
Despite being a neighbor to the United States, Mexico is underrepresented in cinema. Mexican film has gained some recognition in the past 15 years, but there’s still a lack of global appreciation for the rich film history the nation has to offer.
Here are some of Mexico’s most prolific members of the cinema community:
Writer-director and auteur Alfonso Cuarón has broken many barriers, one of which being that he was the first Mexican-born director to win the titular award at the Oscars. Cuarón has also been nominated in 6 different categories at the Academy Awards, an achievement shared only by Walt Disney and George Clooney.
Cuarón entered the world of cinema as a filmmaker with the provocative and explicit coming of age drama “Y Tu Mamá También.” The film follows best friends Tenoch (Diego Luna) and Julio (Gael García Bernal) as they and older family friend Luisa (Maribel Verdú) embark on a transformative road trip. It masterfully displays rich Mexican culture while also juxtaposing it with the intense political climate in early 2000s Mexico.
Almost 17 years after “Y Tu Mamá También,” Cuarón returned to Spanish-language films with the poignant black and white drama “Roma.” The film follows a young Mixtec maid to an upper-class Mexican family as she struggles with her own changing world.
Very few visionaries have had such an impact on filmmaking in the 21st century as Guillermo del Toro. His folkloric and gothic vision led his 2017 film “The Shape of Water” to four academy awards, including Best Director.
While del Toro is known for his iconic two-film “Hellboy” saga, which reimagines the eponymous comic book character, his most praised film is the 2006 gothic fairy tale “Pan’s Labyrinth.” The dark fantasy film intertwines the brutal reality of post–Civil War Spain with a young girl’s escape into a haunting mythical world ruled by ancient magic and monstrous creatures.
“Pan’s Labyrinth” is lauded for its use of practical fantasy makeup as well as its uniquely beautiful costumes and set design. Even though the film is set in Spain, it is one of the most essential pieces of Mexican cinema, as it implements a type of filmmaking synonymous with del Toro’s unique style.
Iñárritu, like Cuarón, was one of the incredibly popular Mexican directors who scored big during 2010s award shows. In his case, films like “The Revenant” with Leonardo DiCaprio and “Birdman” starring Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone, all won multiple awards.
While his English-language films are by far his most popular and offered a way into the larger U.S. market, Iñárritu’s directorial debut, “Amores Perros,” still remains his most critically acclaimed film.
Iñárritu in “Amores Perros” uses one of his trademarks in filmmaking by showcasing multiple storylines at once, ones that will inevitably converge in the climax (2006’s Babel utilises this storytelling method as well). The film, a gritty interwoven drama, explores the harsh realities of love, loss and survival through three interconnected stories set in the violent underbelly of Mexico City.
Gavaldón is one of the most important and influential directors in Mexico’s “Golden Age of cinema” and actively combated the nature of the Old Hollywood style in America.
His dedication to melodramatic narratives, extravagant performances and over the top scores defined his style and the large popularity that followed.
Gavaldón’s defining film is 1960’s “Macario,” a film which includes all of the typical “Gavaldónian” tropes. It follows a poor Mexican peasant who, over the course of the film, meets the devil, God and death. What follows is an exploration into the power of faith and the greed of humans.
While she is not one of Mexico’s most popular directors, Avilés is one of the new faces in the industry making waves.
Avilés’ 2018 feature-film debut “The Chambermaid” put her name into the world of cinema. This slice-of-life look at the world of a hotel worker in Mexico City made critics’ heads turn.
Her newest and most successful film, “Totem,” is another authentic addition to Avilés’ filmography. The film’s exploration into the family system and youthfulness is aided by the implementation of raw handheld camera work.
As we evaluate global cinema, it becomes hard to ignore the big players in the industry, such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, France and Japan. What is left unexplored is the rich and authentic offerings from different countries across the globe.
Mexico is the eleventh largest country by population and accordingly has a very extensive film catalog. For those interested in film, it’s important to take a step back from America and enjoy the beauty of global cinema in its entirety, The Eagle’s first recommendation being the nation of Mexico.
This article was edited by Alia Messina, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Olivia Citarella, Ella Rousseau and Emma Brown.
