By/Por Polo Munoz
Film is serving a social purpose. Mexican filmmakers and producers are exposing Mexico’s gritty self to the world. In the US, one of the things Mexico is loved for is its beauty, but generally not its people. Mexicans have been seen through the tourist eyes and felt outside of Mexico through its immigrant roots, especially in North America and Europe. Sometimes with accuracy, many times with hostility, and most times romantic and limited.
Hola Mexico Film Festival is showing a face that is now more real and more relevant. Many of the films are not trying to please any one, and not trying to make people happy. They are just very real and very rough. There is a sense that Mexico is bearing itself to be seen for what it is. Their log line (a one sentence script summary) which is: “More than clichés” is accurate and defiant, but it shows our Mexican process.
Some films at this year’s festival show a troubled nation with a troubled past with heroic and troubled people that are trying to find their way in a difficult present and an uncertain future. There is no sugar coating the violence. There is more of a psychological exploration of why with no real answers and more questions. The focus is the individual and how her decision is relevant to the new story developing in Mexico.
Check out the programming, and go see a film. Your Mexican friends are more than a cliché.
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