In recent years, Mexican films have received high acclaim and impressive
box-office returns. Moreover, Mexico has the most advanced movie
industry in the Spanish-speaking world, and its impact on Mexican
culture and society cannot be overstated.
Mexico's Cinema: A Century of Film and Filmmakers is a collection of
fourteen essays that encompass the first 100 years of the cinema of
Mexico. Included are original contributions written specifically for
this title, plus a few classic pieces in the field of Mexican cinema
studies never before available in English. These essays explore a
variety of themes including race and ethnicity, gender issues,
personalities, and the historical development of a national cinematic
style.
Each of the book's three sections-The Silent Cinema, The Golden Age, and
The Contemporary Era-is preceded by a short introduction to the period
and a presentation of the major themes addressed in the section.
This insightful anthology is the first published study that includes
pieces by Mexican and North American scholars, including a piece by the
internationally acclaimed essayist Carlos Monsivais. Contributors
include other acclaimed scholars and critics as well as young scholars
who are currently making their mark in the area of film studies of
Mexico. These authors represent various fields-community studies, film
studies, cultural history, ethnic studies, and gender studies-making
this volume an interdisciplinary resource, important for courses in
Latin America and Third World cinema, Mexican history and culture, and
Chicana/o and ethnic studies.