El Compadre Mendoza

An opportunistic landowner endeavours to survive the Mexican Revolution by playing both sides of the fence, changing sides as circumstances dictate, in this classic work from director Fernando de Fuentes, a pre-eminent figure of the early Mexican cinema. The prosperous protagonist (Alfredo del Diestro) makes an opportunistic marriage as well, a fact not lost on his wife (sensuous Carmen Guerrero), who shares a strong mutual attraction with a dashing Zapatista leader (Antonio Frausto). “One of the best Mexican films [from] a rich period in Mexican cinema. It is a brisk satire [with] good humour, a lively sense of observation, and memories of the Mexican Revolution, then still very recent” (Georges Sadoul). “Exceptionally compelling. Mexican critics routinely cite it as the best film ever made in their country. . . This is Birth of a Nation with a brain” (Jay Scott, Globe and Mail). “A complex analysis of the corrupted ideals of the Mexican Revolution, and in particular of the self-interested ambivalence of the middle class” (Judy Bloch, Pacific Film Archive). “De Fuentes is still considered the director whose interpretations of the Mexican revolution . . . have not been surpassed” (John Mraz, Film Reference). B&W, 35mm, in Spanish with English subtitles. 85 mins.