The Day of the Dead is an unmissable tradition for anyone in Mexico on November 1 and 2. It is not a lie when someone says that Mexicans do not fear death, but that we worship and celebrate it. But it is not that we laugh at the fact that someone loses their lives, but that both days we celebrate the lives of those who already left.
Since pre -Hispanic era, death is a central element in culture, since once we are born there is nothing accurate, except death. From there comes the myth of the Mictlán, which is a passage through which we all pass once our life is consumed and several evidence guided by an Xoloitzcuintle must be overcome. However, it has changed over time, but always agrees that after death, there is a place where, eventually, we will meet those who left or who will leave before and after us.
Thus, in the desire to make a loss less painful we continue to «celebrate» through an offering in which basic elements such as candles, water and flowers are placed, among others, and everything that the deceased liked, especially food and drinks, or personal objects. But The day of the dead does not stay at the altar, It extends to a party – or almost – in which there are food, flowers, colors and songs. Perhaps we do it to be at peace with death, because deep down, nobody wants to say goodbye to this plane.
Anyway, filmmakers know that Day of the dead is a unique celebration, It is worth capturing in your work to understand it differently and of course, keep tradition alive.
Macario
Roberto Gavaldón, 1960
We started the selection with The Day of the Dead Commerce film: Macario This was the first Mexican film nominated for an Oscar in the list of «Best Foreign Film» and tells the story of a carrier who lives in Taxco, Guerrero, with his wife and children in extreme poverty. He longs to eat a solo guajolote, without sharing a single bite because when he developed on the day of the dead, he begins to fear for not having enjoyed life as he would have liked. When his wife gets a guajolote for Macario, he looks tempted to share it with God, with the devil and with death, but only the latter gives a little and she (he), in gratitude, grants him a very special gift.