The Georgia Museum of Art is screening films this July in conjunction with its exhibition El Taller de Grafica Popular: Vida y Arte.
The Taller de Grafica Popular was a printmaking collective working in Mexico in the mid-20th century, creating images of revolution, resistance and unity against Nazi and fascist ideas on fliers and posters.
The ¡Viva Mexico! film series includes four films on four consecutive Thursdays in July to contextualize the prints in the exhibition, giving visitors a better understanding of the history of Mexico and the work of the printmaking collective within it.
All films are free and show at 7 p.m. in the museum’s M. Smith Griffith Auditorium. This film series is sponsored by UGA Parents & Families Association.
The Storm That Swept Mexico, a documentary that ventures into the complex historical, political, social and economic forces that caused the Mexican Revolution, will be shown July 16. The Mexican Revolution was the first revolution of the 20th century and the first to be recorded on film.
Macario, the first Latin American film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of foreign language films, will be screened July 23. Set around the time of the Mexican Revolution, it follows Macario, a poor and hungry peasant who hopes for a good meal on the Day of the Dead. After his wife cooks a turkey, he meets apparitions of the devil, God and Death—each requesting a share of the meal. He refuses all but Death, who in return grants him a bottle of water that heals any illness. Soon, Macario is wealthier than the village doctor, which draws the attention of the feared Inquisition. Prints by collective founder Leopoldo Mendez are featured in the opening credits. This film is in Spanish with English subtitles.
Maria Candelaria will be shown July 30. Maria Candelaria was the first Mexican film to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival and the first Latin American film to receive its Grand Prix (now known as the Palme d’Or). It remains one of the most beloved films in Mexican cinematic history. The film focuses on Maria, a young woman who suffers because her fellow peasants mistakenly believe her to be wicked like her mother was. She stands as a symbol for the innocence, beauty and dignity of the indigenous Mexican people. This film is in Spanish with English subtitles.
An Artful Revolution: The Life and Art of the Taller de Grafica Popular was screened July 9.
