By Angel Galvan
In an era of Mexican bashing, how ironic is it that President Trump would forget to mention that Mexico sends and shares a rich culture with America – many of their best movie directors, Academy Award nominees and winners – including the coveted Oscar Mexicano statuette itself? Most people aren’t aware, but the statuette that represents the best that a culture has to offer documented in a ‘celluloid medium’ and is most coveted by a creative global elite, ‘Oscar,’ is Mexicano. His name is Emilio “El Indio” Fernandez, one of Mexico’s prolific film directors, actors and screenwriters of the “Golden Age of Mexican Cinema” in the 1940s and 1950s. Emilio “El Indio” Fernandez is Mexican and was the model for the Oscar Statuette.
Moving on to the 2018 Mexican Oscars, Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Shape of Water’ 13 nominations, 4 Oscar statuettes, and CLE Lee Unkrich’s ‘Coco’ 2 nominations and 2 Oscars once again insured a Mexican dominance over an American Institution … the 90th Academy Awards – Hollywood’s Oscars. And, incredulously, Cleveland played an important role in this 2018 Mexican Oscar narrative. Cleveland native Lee Unkrich, from Chagrin Falls, accelerated the growing Oscar Mexicano accomplishments and influence. Coco combined a wonderful ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ theme, a delightful storyline and a Mexican laden A-list cast with Oscar caliber directors. The result was a movie with amazing chemistry. Coco won 2 Oscars, then preceded to break Mexico’s movie attendance records. And even though he isn’t Mexican, Lee Unkrich is truly an underappreciated Cleveland asset and Mexican cultural gem….Keep reading below
Indeed, Guillermo Del Toro received 13 Oscar nominations for ‘Shape of Water,’ but this year’s bounty was not an anomaly. Guillermo Del Toro wasn’t the only Mexican to radiate. Within the last two decades more than a few Mexican directors and cinematic talent moved a growing Mexican film industry into becoming a Hollywood incubator. Subsequently, this resulted in the ‘Shape of Water’ winning 4 Oscar statuettes, Lee Unkrich’s ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ theme driven ‘Coco’ winning 2 Oscars and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s ‘Carne y Arena’ (Flesh and Sand) reaping 1 Oscar for a collective of 16 Academy Award nominations and 7 Oscar Statuettes. But, it was Del Toro’s win that marked the fourth time a Mexican-born won Best Director out of 5 years and established another Mexican milestone. Outstanding!!!
In Hollywood, the endearing moniker “Tres Amigos” is the name given to Guillermo Del Toro, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu and Alfonso Cuaron for being friends, being Mexican and for their pumping out Oscar after Oscar quality and award winning movies. Their prominence came into many people’s consciousness in 2006 with the introduction of Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”, Iñarritu’s “Babel” and Cuaron’s “Children for Men”… all screening at mainstream movie Cineplex’s around the globe and all winning Oscars for their respective films. But there were flashes of brilliance even before the 2006 Mexican breakout year and their ascension to the 2007 Academy Awards.
In 2000 Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu’s “Amores Perros” was nominated for Best Foreign Film while Alfonso Cuaron’s 2002 “Y Tu Mama Tambien” was nominated for Best Screenplay-Original. Both not only introduced the the Academy to elite Mexican cinematic creativity, but to two incredible cultural cutting ‘Rock En Español’ soundtracks. Mexican Pop Culture history was being made…an Era defining time, not the same but similar to “Woodstock” and the 60’s.
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*Sidebar – Mexicans, at that time, had the option of listening to traditional Mexican music on “La Preferida” with DJ Lilly, or “Rock En Español on “Pochotitlan” with DJ Johnny Tamales & DJ Angel D broadcast from Cleveland State University’s college radio, WCSB 89.3 FM…and, where DJ’s Johnny Tamales and Angel D could be heard spinning songs from both ‘Amores Perros’ and ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien’ soundtracks. Mexican Rock Icons Control Machete, Café Tacuba, Zurdock, Julieta Venegas broke some ground on ‘Amores Perros’ while Molotov, Café Tacuba, Plastilina Mosh, La Revolucion De Emiliano Zapata rocked ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien. These Mexican artist were not the only groups making some noise…both soundtracks and movies also included many Latin rock groups from around the world – DJ Johnny Tamales and DJ Angel D crushed them as well…
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‘Los Tres Amigos” appear primed to win more Oscars, so the entanglement, fusion and competition of Mexican and American Cinema are destined to continue for possibly another decade. Not soo fast! Let’s take a look at “Los Tres Mas.” Filmmakers Amat Escalante with movie credits – “Heli” and “La Region Salvaje,” Tatiana Huezo with documentary credits – “The Tiniest Place” and “Temestad,” including Alonso Ruizpalacios’ – “Gueros” and “Museum” all of whom are a few award winning Mexican filmmakers to watch. They come from a formidable generation of talent in Mexico…and last year, Mexicans submitted a record 175 films and won at least100 awards internationally
Migrant rights icon Dolores Huerta, singer Natalia Lafourcade, ‘Guillermo’ (Rodriguez) from Jimmy Kimmel, Coco’s co director Adrian Molina, and Gael Garcia Bernal were just a few of the many Mexican celebrities on stage or in the audience @ the 2018 Academy awards. Gael Garcia Bernal had the unique distinction of singing Coco’s “Remember Me” with Natalia Lafourcade, But, Mr. Bernal was also the voice of “Coco’s” Hector, acted in “Babel,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and “Amores Perros.”
In an era of Mexican bashing it is of paramount importance for the Mexican to control and determine their own narrative. Unfortunately, too often, people use selective statistics and information to diminish the Mexican’s value, for personal gain and to dictate the narrative. This includes many non-Latinos and non-immigrant Latinos presenting themselves as the voice of the Mexican or immigrant communities.
The 2018 Academy Awards and this article contain more examples where Mexican creativity and stature is branded global, and, where opportunity is significant. With Mexicans breaking records, setting milestones and redefining American culture it would be empowering to this community if the Mexican leadership would take command of the Mexican narrative and lead. When Oscar Award Winner Guillermo Del Toro was asked why? His reply was very appropriate – “Porque Soy Mexicano!”
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