Why go
Films give you another route into Mexican cultural references before or during a trip. Compare Emilio Fernández's María Candelaria with work by Luis Buñuel or Alejandro González Iñárritu to see how widely the country's screen traditions vary. Recognizing names such as Cantinflas or María Félix also helps decode references beyond the cinema itself.
The full story
The Golden Age of Mexican cinema made actors such as María Félix, Pedro Infante, Dolores del Río and Jorge Negrete widely recognizable. Cantinflas developed a distinct comic presence. These names belong to a film culture whose reach extended across Latin America and into Europe. Emilio Fernández's María Candelaria is one useful starting point. Luis Buñuel, born in Spain, made an important body of work in Mexico, including Los Olvidados and El ángel exterminador. Their films offer contrasting introductions to the range of work produced in the country. Later landmarks include Como agua para chocolate, Cronos and Y tu mamá también. Directors such as Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro also built international careers. Their work makes a useful distinction between Mexican filmmaking and films necessarily set in Mexico. Television adds another tradition through telenovelas, with performers including Verónica Castro and Lucía Méndez.