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.
