Cinco De Mayo is about more than just sipping margaritas with your friends and ordering tacos on special.
Cinco De Mayo is a celebration of Mexico and all of its people and the best way to celebrate is to honor the people and the culture. One of my favorite ways to honor a culture is through art, and film is a no-brainer to explore and celebrate. Mexico has used film to document historical events like the Mexican Revolution and showcase and highlight the highs and lows of life in Mexico. While there have been some struggles, there have been many triumphs and so much talent that has come in the film industry. So while you may still be celebrating with a drink and delicious food, consider checking out some films from these 4 directors that hail from Mexico.
Crimson Peak / Universal Pictures
Guillermo del Toro is by far the most notable name on this list, and for good reason. He is a director, producer, novelist, and screenwriter, and has some prestigious awards under his belt like the Academy Awards for Best Picture. Del Toro was born in Guadalajara and began making short films at the early age of 8 years old. His feature debut was Cronos and the magic hasn’t stopped since then. Some other popular films of his include Pinocchio (2022), Pan’s Labyrinth, Nightmare Alley, The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, and The Devil’s Backbone.
The Revenant / 20th Century Fox
Alejandro González Iñárritu was born in Mexico City, eventually become a radio show host, composed music for 6 Mexican films while hosting the show, and eventually directed his first film titled Amores Perros. Amores Perres premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards. Some other films of González Iñárritu’s include Birdman, The Revenant, Babel, Biutiful, and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.
Y Tu Mamá También / 20th Century Fox
Alfonso Cuarón was also born in Mexico City. Cuarón initially pursued an education in Philosophy, and then eventually studied filmmaking in Mexico. He got his start as a TV show technician and assistant director. After getting some years under his belt, he eventually wrote his first film called Solo Con Tu Pareja. This film went on to win at the Toronto Film Festival and really catapulted his career forward. Cuarón has directed Y Tu Mamá También, Gravity, A Little Princess, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Like Water for Chocolate / Miramax
Alfonso Arau was born in Mexico City and has been an actor and director of Mexican films for more than 20 years. He notably starred in Coco as Papa Julio. Arau has earned himself six Ariel Awards, which is the Mexican equivalent of an Academy Award. Some of his most notable films include Like Water For Chocolate, A Walk In The Clouds, and Picking Up The Pieces.
Cinco De Mayo is a celebration of Mexico and all of its people and the best way to celebrate is to honor the people and the culture. One of my favorite ways to honor a culture is through art, and film is a no-brainer to explore and celebrate. Mexico has used film to document historical events like the Mexican Revolution and showcase and highlight the highs and lows of life in Mexico. While there have been some struggles, there have been many triumphs and so much talent that has come in the film industry. So while you may still be celebrating with a drink and delicious food, consider checking out some films from these 4 directors that hail from Mexico.
Guillermo del Toro
Crimson Peak / Universal Pictures
Guillermo del Toro is by far the most notable name on this list, and for good reason. He is a director, producer, novelist, and screenwriter, and has some prestigious awards under his belt like the Academy Awards for Best Picture. Del Toro was born in Guadalajara and began making short films at the early age of 8 years old. His feature debut was Cronos and the magic hasn’t stopped since then. Some other popular films of his include Pinocchio (2022), Pan’s Labyrinth, Nightmare Alley, The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, and The Devil’s Backbone.
Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Revenant / 20th Century Fox
Alejandro González Iñárritu was born in Mexico City, eventually become a radio show host, composed music for 6 Mexican films while hosting the show, and eventually directed his first film titled Amores Perros. Amores Perres premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards. Some other films of González Iñárritu’s include Birdman, The Revenant, Babel, Biutiful, and Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.
Alfonso Cuarón
Y Tu Mamá También / 20th Century Fox
Alfonso Cuarón was also born in Mexico City. Cuarón initially pursued an education in Philosophy, and then eventually studied filmmaking in Mexico. He got his start as a TV show technician and assistant director. After getting some years under his belt, he eventually wrote his first film called Solo Con Tu Pareja. This film went on to win at the Toronto Film Festival and really catapulted his career forward. Cuarón has directed Y Tu Mamá También, Gravity, A Little Princess, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Alfonso Arau
Like Water for Chocolate / Miramax
Alfonso Arau was born in Mexico City and has been an actor and director of Mexican films for more than 20 years. He notably starred in Coco as Papa Julio. Arau has earned himself six Ariel Awards, which is the Mexican equivalent of an Academy Award. Some of his most notable films include Like Water For Chocolate, A Walk In The Clouds, and Picking Up The Pieces.