Over the course of the last three or so years, the Bay Area has been a difficult local for the oft-times amazing cinema of Mexico. Cine Acción and the International Latino Film Festival, for a variety of reasons, have both faded in to oblivion. Yes, last year San Francisco was lucky enough to have the inaugural edition of the San Francisco Latino Film Festival, and of course this years San Francisco International Film Festival had a trio of near-excellent Mexican films (Northless, Alamar, and Presumed Guilty). But still, with such a ripe love of film within San Francisco and its surrounding areas, Mexican film often gets a short stick.
Thus, it is downright incredible that the Hola Mexico Film Festival is swinging in to our city this fine weekend with a finely curated selection of Mexican film. Currently considered to be the largest fully Mexican-dedicated festival in the world, Hola Mexico Film Festival presents a selection of films curated by the festival’s founder, Samuel Douek. The films in the festival this year explore the intimate relationships between father and son (Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio’s Alamar), the corruption riddling Mexico and its police force (Diego Munoz Vega’s Bala Mordida), and much more all in the wake of the Mexico’s upcoming bicentennial.
The festival takes place entirely at Landmark Embarcadero One.
Our fine city has been dry of good Mexican cinema for a good while now, but Hola Mexico Film Festival presents a fine opportunity to immerse yourself in the diverse films of the country.
For you enjoyment, Mission Loc@l’s recommendations:
1. Alamar, d. Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio
In the wake of accolades and honors bestowed upon it at the SFIFF this year (Gonzalez-Rubio took home the New Director’s Award) it seems a moot point to heap more praise on the film. The story of three generations of men, fishing away a summer on the Mexican Caribbean deserves the praise it has been garnering and more. Using a mixed narrative-documentary style, Gonzalez-Rubio creates an ethereal, near wordless, portrait of a humanity’s communion with both nature and itself. Alamar, thought at times lacking in weight, is a gorgeous, touching way to wile away a sunny afternoon.
Showtimes:
Friday, May 7, 7:00PM
2. Perpetuum Mobile, d. Nicolas Pereda
In the words of film website Twitch’s Todd Brown, Perpetuum Mobile “is a film in which nothing ever happens. And that’s kind of the point.” Neil Young-approved, Nicolas Pereda’s slow, meandering film, documents the relationship between a 24-year old truck driver and his mother. From trailer alone, the film seems to invoke the sort of indie aesthetic needed to adequately, and hilariously describe a lazy afternoon spent between mother and her absentee son.
Showtime:
Friday, May 7, 1:00PM
Monday, May 10, 7:30PM
3. Vaho, d. Alejandro Gerber Bicecci
Vaho (or Beclouded) was selected for the Global Lens 2010 series, and thus is being presented as the opening night film for the festival. The film, a taut, emotional piece, follows three reunited childhood friends as they deal with the buried guilt of a horrendous incident. Those curious about the making of the film will be wont to attend the 25-dollar opening night festivities where Bicecci will be on hand to discuss the film and answer questions.
Showtime:
Saturday, May 8th, 3:00PM
4. Naco Es Chido, d. Sergio Arau
If you’re feeling sated with heavier pieces of Mexican film, Naco Es Chido (Kitch Is Cool) – the story of a rock band and their mysterious disappearance in the late-80s – might be right up your gloom-filled alley. 20 years after members of the famed rock band Botellita de Jerez disappeared from a cab in 1988, their disappeared recordings are found in a junk yard. The investigation of their vanishing is reopened and much hilarity ensues. Director, and actor, Sergio Arau was also behind the camera of A Day Without A Mexican.
Showtime:
Friday May 7th, 3:00PM
Tuesday May 11th, 5:15PM
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For more information, schedules, tickets, and explorations of the other films in the festival please hop on over to the Hola Mexico Film Festival website.
Hola Mexico assembles a stellar program and I’m happy that it’s not a smattering of contemporary Mexican films. I’m glad you’ve given it coverage! Last year’s Latino Film Festival actually was programmed skewing toward Mexico and more so if you include the films that were made by Mexican-Americans. The previous festival ran out of steam but the current incarnation shares many of the same people that worked behind the scenes. The festival is back in September and we’re currently screening films from our Mexico-In-Film Series…dates in SF TBD for these Mexican classics.