Documentary
Memories of a Mexican
Memorias de un mexicano
Carmen Toscano · 1950
Synopsis
A documentary edited from reels filmed or gathered by the cameraman Salvador Toscano since 1897. A fictional narrator tells in the first person of his life and that of his family up to the 1930s: the streets and trams of Mexico City, popular festivals, President Porfirio Díaz, then the revolution, with Madero, Carranza, Villa, Zapata, Obregón and Calles at their decisive moments. Popular songs of the period accompany the images.
Context
Salvador Toscano, who opened one of the first cinemas in Mexico City, filmed current events for his programmes and kept his reels as a record after the fall of Díaz. His daughter made this film from them in 1950, writing, producing and editing it; the voice is that of the famous reciter Manuel Bernal. Released on 24 August 1950 at the Chapultepec cinema and presented at Cannes in 1954, it is the only film declared a historical monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, in 1967, and the Academy Film Archive restored it in 2012.
Who it is for
A feature-length film of archive footage with commentary, easy to follow, for anyone who wants to see revolutionary Mexico; restored print.
Prizes and reception
Special Ariel Award in 1951 as a film of national interest; the only work of cinema declared a historic monument of Mexico.
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