Cine Las Americas presents Literature in Mexican Cinema

After 14 years, Cine Las Americas has screened more than 1,200 indigenous and Latin films in an effort to promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating, entertaining and challenging diverse audiences through film and media arts.  Known for their yearly film festival, the non-profit organization also partners with local schools to implement media education programs to serve the minority youth in Austin.

In collaboration with the General Consulate of Mexico and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Cine Las Americas presents Literature in Mexican Cinema: a free film series of five movies based on literary adaptations through four decades of Mexican cinema. Although it’s difficult to capture the importance of literature in Mexican cinema through five films, the movies selected portray the literary work of some of the most important Latin American authors as well as the most recognized directors, cinematographers and artists from the 1930s-‘60s.

The first of the film series to be presented is Rosa Blanca, a historical drama based on a novel by Bruno Travern and directed by Roberto Gavaldón. The movie was banned for 11 years for criticizing the exploitation of corporate oil companies and government corruption in the 20^th century. The film tells the story of Jacinto, an indigenous landlord in Veracruz, who suffers the consequences of corporate greed when he refuses to sell the land to an oil company.

Rosa Blanca will be screened tonight at 8 p.m. at the Black Box Theater in the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center located at 600 River St. The rest of the movies in the series will be screened at the same time and place.

The films to be presented are:

Get a sneak peek of  Rosa Blanca below: